The story behind the hymn
Robert Robinson wrote this hymn in 1758, according to a note in his own handwriting, and it was first printed in 1759 in a collection used by a London church. In 1760 Martin Madan published a version that gave the three-stanza form now standard.
The original had five stanzas. The tune most often used today, NETTLETON, is an American folk melody that has been handed down without a firm composer.
The hymn refers to a “stone of help” from the Old Testament, a memorial that said, here God helped us.
The Scripture behind it
1 Samuel 7:12
Samuel set up a stone and named it Ebenezer, which means stone of help, as a reminder that God had helped Israel to that point.
A short reflection
Remembering is a spiritual discipline. The hymn also admits how easily we drift. If you have wandered, this is a hymn for coming back.
Lord, you have helped me this far. Keep my heart close to you. Amen.
The full words
Read the full words of this hymn, with tunes and scores, on Hymnary.org.
Read the full hymn text →Source for author, dates and public-domain status: Hymnary.org. Scripture quoted from the World English Bible (public domain).