The purpose of the memorial stone is to remember how the Lord was faithful to his promises, how he helped Israel in battle against the Philistines.1 What the Lord has been in the past he will also be in the future. When his people are faithful to the terms of the old covenant, they can expect him to fight on their behalf and bring victory against their enemies.
12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, “Till now the LORD has helped us.”