>>***1 Samuel 7:12
"Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, “Yahweh helped us until now***.

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After capturing the Ark of covenant, the Philistines moved it from city to city. Each of their cities wanted to get rid of it, for it only brought plaques of rates and tumours. At the end of the seventh months they were afraid to keep it any longer, so they sent it back to Israel, where there was great rejoicing. However, they continued to terrorise Israel, for 20 years until "all the people mourned and sought after the Lord" ***(1 Samuel 7:2)***.When they did this, they were in a condition where God could help them.
Samuel was on touch with all the people of Israel. He travelled all over the country judging the the tribes and exhorting the people the Lord. He told them that if they would put away false gods and goddesses (such as Baal and Astaroth) and give their hearts to God, to serve Him only, He would deliver them out of the hands of the Philistines. Baal was the god of weather and crops. Astaroth was the goddess sexual voice and war. The people listened to Samuel and did as he said. They turned away from Baal and Astaroth, and began to serve the Lord only. So Samuel called for a national assembly Mizpah. The people gathered there, and fasted that day, and drew water which they poured out as a sacrifice. They confessed they had sinned against the Lord and Samuel prayed for them.

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While all the people were gathered at Mizpah, a mighty miracle happened. The Philistines suddenly attacked them. The people were afraid and cried out to Samuel to keep praying to the Lord to save them from the enemy. So Samuel offered a burnt sacrifice to God and prayed earnestly for His help. The help came from the skies. There was a great thunder, as from a mighty storm. It frightened the Philistines so badly that they all fled away. Samuel gave full credit to the Lord for the great victory. He set up a memorial stone and said, "Hitherto hath the Lord helped us".
The Philistines were filled with fear of the mighty God whom Israel served, and they never attacked again as long as Samuel was alive.
Shalom, life and grace to you 
Moving people unto God's purposes 
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