Who's Shamgar?

Dear reader, 

I’m sure you are aware but I thoroughly enjoy books. Especially when they teach me something I didn’t know before, I am a human vacuum when it comes to knowledge and wisdom. 

I just want to always know more. There are pros and cons to that, but that’s not the focus of this letter. 

We need to talk about Shamgar. If you don’t know this biblical character you’re not alone. He doesn’t get a lot of play time as far as scripture documents, but the book I’ve been wrestling through lately, “Kingdom Man” by Tony Evans mentioned him in the most recent chapter. 

Shamgar is mentioned twice in the Bible. 

Once in Judges 3:31

Second in Judges 5:6

As you can rightly assume He was a judge in the Old Testament era. However, the principles that can be viewed in such a small portion of scripture were very challenging to me. 

I will show 5:6 for context, then go back to what Shamgar actually accomplished. 

Judges 5:6

“In the days of Shamgar, son of Anath,

in the days of Jael, the highways were abandoned,

and travelers kept to the byways.

As we read this we can deduce that this was a bad time. The highways were the primary roads in which travelers and traders would go about enacting business, but if they were abandoned, there must be a reason for this. In the time of the Judges, the world was rampant with evil, The Israelites would either be taken captive, or ruled by evil men, and a Judge would be risen up to turn Israel around, or deliver them from their oppressor. 

Enter Shamgar. 

Judges 3:31

“After him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who killed 600 of the Philistines with an oxgoad, and he also saved Israel.” 

We only know a few things from this one passage, but let’s draw those out. 

One. Shamgar killed 600 Philistines. 

Two. He used an oxgoad. 

Three. He saved Israel. 

If we dig a bit deeper we can paint a clearer picture. An oxgoad was not a weapon. 

It was a tool for farming. While the oxen were tilling the fields the farmer would follow behind them and prod them with an oxgoad to motivate them to continue on. 

There would be a fine point on one end to poke or prod, and the other end normally had a hook or chisel on it to pull roots up out of the way in order to not hinder the farming labor. 

Shamgar was a farmer. 

Not a warrior. 

Yet when God wanted Him to do something he took what he had and used it for the Lord’s work. 

People. He killed 600 people with a farmer’s tool. We don’t know if this was a singular battle in which he struck down 600 people, or if it was over a lifetime, but nonetheless, 600 enemies is no small thing.                                             

God wanted to use him to save Israel, and Shamgar allowed himself to be used. God did great things through Shamgar. 

I share this so that you can be encouraged and challenged. Do not ever think that you are unusable to God. That is a great lie Satan loves to toss our way, and nothing more than that. 

If you are willing and able, as we all should be, God will send us to the area, the people, and the work that He has set aside for us to do. 

Will you do as God wants?

Sincerely,

Your Fellow Servant of the One True King

-Mitchell