Shamgar

And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad: and he also delivered Israel. (Judges 3:31 KJV)

Shamgar's name means "a stranger" and his father's name, Anath means "an answer." In contrast to the lengthy reports concerning Ehud and Deborah, Shamgar's story almost seems incidental. Shamgar was inserted in the account of the Judges, because he was too important to be omitted.

THE TIME

It is of importance to note that his act of deliverance is mentioned as occurring during the long eighty-year peace period that followed Ehud's deliverance. The defeat of an enemy by Ehud, was not the defeat of all of Israel's enemies.

Deborah's song contains the only other reference to Shamgar. In it she sang:

"In the days of Shamgar, son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were deserted, and the travelers walked along the byways. Village life ceased, it ceased in Israel, until, I, Deborah, arose, arose a mother in Israel. They chose new gods; then there was war in the gates; not a shield or spear was seen among forty thousand in Israel...." (Judges 5:6-8)

Travelers did not journey on the main highways for fear of being robbed or killed. The people abandoned their villages in an attempt to avoid being the victims of frequent Philistine raids.

Israel had no weapons with which to defend herself against her enemies. She was vulnerable on every front. No one liked the situation, but no one seemed able to do anything about it.

THE TOOL

Our text reveals that Shamgar killed 600 men of the Philistines. It does not tell us if he did this over a period of time or in one encounter. While we aren't given much detail concerning his heroic act, we are told that Shamgar's weapon was an ox goad. This was nothing like the dagger crafted by Ehud. According to Wight and Freeman, an ox goad was an instrument used by the ploughman.

A goad is carried by the native ploughman today, and was also used in Bible times. It is a wooden rod varying in length from five to seven fee, with a sharp point at one end. With this the farmer can hurry up his slow-moving animals. (Wight, 1953, p. 171.)

It is a strong pole about eight feet long and two inches in diameter. At one end is a sharp point for pricking the oxen when their movements become intolerably slow, and at the other end is a broad chisel-like blade, which is used to clear the plowshare of the roots and thorns which impede it or of the stiff clay which adheres to it. (Freeman, 1972, p.122, 123)

The ox goad was an instrument used in agriculture, not in fighting against seasons warriors. In Shamgar's hands the ox goad became a lethal weapon.

Others in Israel may have seen the need to throw off the oppression of the Philistines, but they felt unable to do anything about their situation. They were an unarmed people waiting for God to give them an advantage.

There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Now Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody's job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn't do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.

THE TRUTH

When Jesus called Peter to walk on the water, He did not provide any visible means of support for him. When Peter looked over the edge of the boat, he did not see dry land upon which to stand. What he did see was water.

(Mat 14:24-29 NIV) but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. {25} During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. {26} When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear. {27} But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." {28} "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." {29} "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.

Peter's courage and faith in Jesus enabled him to walk without any visible means of support.

While others were waiting for God to work a miracle that would make failure impossible, Shamgar trusted God to use him and what he had. What do you have?

In the April 1996 edition of Mountain Movers magazine, missionary Bob Roberts tells a story about "Six Small Seashells."

The pastor dismissed the congregation and I, the guest speaker, sat down to relax for a moment. I had just shared my burden for the hungry children in the Philippines.
When I looked up, I saw a young boy, about 7 years old, standing before me. ...He was a Norman Rockwell painting waiting to happen.
I motioned for him to come closer. He came running and three both arms around my neck in an unexpected display of emotion. As he stepped back from his heartwarming bear hug, I saw tears in his eyes. "What's the matter?" I asked.
He explained, "Jesus spoke to me tonight while you were telling us about the hungry children." He stopped, looked into my eyes, and asked, "Do you think it's possible that Jesus really spoke to me?"
"Yes!" I encouraged him. "Go on."
He continued excitedly. "When you said that for a quarter a day you would feed a child and give him a vitamin, I thought, I've got to help. but I didn't know how I could. That's when Jesus spoke to me."
He slowly pulled his hand, now formed into a tight little fist, from his pocket. He was firmly gripping his gift to the ministry, whatever it was. He extended his fist toward me and slowly opened his hand to reveal six small seashells.
Gazing at his treasure with pride, he said, "This is my shell collection. Ain't it just beautiful?" His voice quivered as he continued. "I believe Jesus wants me to give these shells to help the children."
With those words, he placed the shells in my hand. I said a prayer of dedication over the gift, and my little friend sniffed and sighed in a final farewell to the treasure he held dear.... A few weeks later, I spoke to another congregation about my burden. Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out the seashells and shared their legacy.
At the end of the service, a man approached me and asked to see the shells. I happily complied and placed them in his hand. He held them for a moment and then said, as he pulled out his checkbook, "I would like to purchase these shells for $100!"
My freckle-faced friend may never know that his sacrificial offering provided 400 meals for Filipino children. He may not have understood how the Lord would use the small gift to feed the hungry, but he knew God wanted him to give what he had....
No matter how insignificant the gift may seem, God can use it to birth a miracle. (Roberts, p. 11.)

I love this little poem written by Helen T. Allison. In it she writes:

What do you have? It may in the face of the overwhelming need seem ever so insignificant, but obedience can make it an instrument of deliverance. What do you have?

That day in Bethany, at the house of Simon the leper, a woman came a poured out an alabaster flask of oil on Jesus. Some of the observers criticized her, but Jesus said, "Let her alone. She has done what she could." (Mark 14:6,8) That's all Jesus ask of us. Do what you can. Use what you have.

Many will remember the great Welsh Revival, but few remember just how this mighty spiritual tidal wave began. A "Christian Endeavor" meeting was in progress in a small town in Wales, when a timid young Welsh girl arose. She was so nervous that she could utter only one short sentence. "O, I do love Jesus!", she said and then she sat down. That simple phrase became the spark that ignited a spiritual fire that spread through that church, then down the streets of that little town, on through the whole of Wales and around the world. Little is much when God is in it. What do you have?

There were a thousand reasons why it couldn't be done, but Shamgar and his ox goad did it.

I am immediately reminded of David's mighty men.

Eleazar (God is my helper), a man unwilling to quit until the victory was won.

(2 Sam 23:9-10 NIV) Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty men, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim for battle. Then the men of Israel retreated, {10} but he stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day. The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead.

Shammah, a man who stood his ground in the face of overwhelming odds.

(2 Sam 23:11-12 KJV) And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines. {12} But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a great victory.

Benaiah (built of Jehovah), a man willing to challenge the enemy on his own turf.

(2 Sam 23:20-23 KJV) And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he slew two lionlike men of Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow: {21} And he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man: and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his own spear. {22} These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among three mighty men. {23} He was more honorable than the thirty, but he attained not to the first three. And David set him over his guard.

Shamgar didn't have a spear or a broad sword, but what he did have he used to the glory of God and the deliverance of Israel.

"I'd build support missions if I won the Reader's Digest Sweepstakes." "Pastor, I'd see to it that the Church had an air-conditioned, 60 passenger Gold Eagle bus, if I could win a lottery." I

Jesus fed the 5000 with a little boy's lunch. David defeated Goliath with one small smooth stone. The key to effective ministry is to be found in faith obedience. What do you have?

I don't remember his name, but I do recall his story. He was in his early seventies when I met him. He was one of the people I picked up for Church on Sunday mornings. On that particular morning he told me he had taught Sunday School. It was a class that nobody else wanted, but he took it because he had a heart burden for the boys. On that first Sunday, there was only one boy in attendance and things didn't go that well. During the next few weeks he prayed for and faithfully taught the single student in his junior boys class. One day while praying God gave him an idea. The following Sunday, at the end of the class, he announced that he would give a brand new silver dollar to students who could quote their memory verses at the end of the quarter. At the specified time his lone student recited all thirteen verses and received his shinny silver dollar. The next Sunday, four other boys made their first visit to the junior boys class. One by one the boys memorized their verses and one by one they came to faith in Christ. I remember his tears as he said, "most of those boys are now pastoring or working as missionaries. As far as I know, all of them are serving God." He then chuckled and declared, "Those boys cost me about forty to fifty silver dollars a quarter, but it was the best investment I've ever made."

What do you have that when used in obedience will bring glory to God and deliverance to His people?

Father, I truly believe that nothing is too difficult for You. Forgive me for waiting until I had what I believed I needed to fulfill your call on my life. I'm submitting myself and my ox goad to your service. "Jesus use me and oh Lord, don't refuse me. Surely there's a work that I can do. And even though it's humble, Lord help my will to crumble. Though the cost be great I'll work for you."

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Freeman, James M., Manners And Customs of the Bible, Logos International, Plainfield, NJ, Reprinted 1972.

2. Roberts, Bill, Six Small Seashells, Mountain Movers, April 1996, Vol. 38, No. 4, Gospel Publishing House, Springfield, MO.

3. Wight, Fred H., Manners And Customs Of Bible Lands, Moody Press,Chicago, IL, 1953

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