Shamgar

[00:00:05] Hi, everybody, and welcome back to the weekday podcast. You know, when we jumped into recording these years ago, Pastor Bobby and I never imagined how many people would actually listen. And I want to thank you so much for listening in. Today I want to talk about a character from the Old Testament that you may have missed. His name sounds like my podcast from Wednesday. [00:00:26] The word Wednesday was Shemar, but today we're talking about a character, not a word, and his name is Shamgar. He gets one verse. One verse. Judges 3:31 from the New living translation says, after Ehud Shamgar, son of Anath, rescued Israel. He once killed 600 Philistines with an ox, goad. That's it. I'll be back with a little more about. About Shamgar in just a minute. [00:00:59] All right, let's reread Judges 3:31 real quick. After Ehud Shamgar, son of Anath, rescued Israel. Now, there's a period right there because, I mean, that's a big statement. He rescued the entire nation of Israel, and then it says he once killed 600 Philistines with an ox, goad. That's it. That's his whole story. Blink and you miss Shamgar. But maybe that's not the point. Let's set the scene. Israel's in chaos. The Book of Judges is this wild, spiraling story of people forgetting who they are, who God is, and what it means to be free. There's violence, corruption, there's fear. The highways are empty. People are hiding, living in fear of the Philistines, these fierce warriors with iron weapons and chariots. The Philistines are the superpower. They're the bullies on the block. And then Shamgar, son of Anath, his name isn't even Hebrew. It's Hurion. I mean, maybe even Canaanite. Anath could even be a nod to a foreign goddess of war. I mean, this guy doesn't have this rich biblical heritage. I mean, it's not the guy you expect to save the nation of Israel. He's not a general. He's not a prophet. He's not even a soldier. Don't. Dude is a farmer. And what does he do? [00:02:20] You know, think about it. He saves the nation of Israel. The better question I think we should ask is, what does he have? Not a sword, not a spear. He's got an ox, goad. Now, if you don't know what that is, it's a long, pointed stick for prodding cattle. Now think about it. The Philistines have iron. Shamgar has a stick, but that's what he uses. That's what's in his hand. He kills 600 philistines with a farm tool and he rescues the nation of Israel. Now, the text doesn't tell us if this was all at once over time. Was it a single epic showdown or a lifetime of small, faithful acts of resistance? We don't know all the details. The Bible just says he did it. He delivered the people of Israel. And then nothing. The story moves on. No song, no parade, no statue. Just one little verse. But maybe that's the whole point. [00:03:18] Maybe the story of Shamgar is about what you do with what's in your hand. Maybe he is the ultimate underdog. Maybe it's about God using the unexpected, the ordinary, the overlooked. Maybe it's about the power of one person in one movement and in one moment doing what has to be done with whatever you have you ever feel overlooked? I mean, I've been there. Like your story doesn't matter. Been there like you're not the right person or you don't have the right tools. Been there. Shamgar's story says whatever's in your hand is enough. God can use it. God can use you. [00:03:58] So today, whatever you're facing, whatever's in front of you, whatever is in your hand, maybe that's exactly what God wants to use. Maybe your story is just beginning, even if it looks like a single verse. Shamgar the Ox. Goad, the unexpected. Deliverer, Grace and peace. Friends, I'll see you next time on the weekday podcast. And I really am so grateful that you join us and you're part of this. Please share with your friends. God bless you. Bye now.