Psalm 8:1

My Shepherd met me in His green pastures and laid me down in Judges 3, verse 31 got my attention:

Judges 3:31 ¶ 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.

Shamgar* was a champion in his own right: to have 600 kills to your credit was an honorable record to be sure. He would certainly have made it into David’s list of mighty men (2 Samuel 23:8-39).

The Mind of the Spirit drew the attention of the spirit of my mind to the fact that Shamgar served in the shadow of Ehud. Ehud delivered Israel from the Moabites in a time of revival (Judges 3:12-30). It appears Shamgar followed Ehud’s service to Israel: “And after him [that is, Ehud] was Shamgar” (Judges 3:31).

I may be taking more from the verse than is warranted. It appears to me that Shamgar picked up the “mantle of deliverer” after Ehud passed, and effectively delivered Israel, beating back the Philistines who had come from Crete and were beginning to invade the southern region of Canaan. Shamgar stopped them at Israel’s southwest border. But the people were already beginning to turn back toward the evil that brought them under the oppression of the Moabites, and God was about to turn them over to the oppression of Jabin, king of northern Canaan.

Shamgar stopped an invasion of the Philistines into Israel’s borders, but could not stop the evil invading the hearts of the people.

He delivered Israel from an enemy, but Israel delivered herself to God’s enemy: sin!

Along the still waters, I reflected on the ministry of Shamgar. Ehud delivered Israel and inspired a time of revival in the land. Shamgar “also delivered Israel.” He got a mention here, and in Deborah’s song (Judges 5:6). During the days of Shamgar and Jael, the “highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways” (Judges 5:6). The “Highways” suggest the main thoroughfares of social life and commerce. The “byways” suggest being marginalized from the mainstream and avoiding engagement with the concourse of society.

Many “Shamgars” fight their battles and “slay” many of the enemies of righteousness, while everyone else is avoiding the battle lanes. During times like this, there are some “Shamgars” willing to go it alone in spiritual warfare, and some brave but unknown “Jael’s” living in the shadows, sometimes under compromising men too cowardly to take a stand, perhaps praying for revival and watching for God’s deliverance.

When God’s people abandon the “highways” and yield them to the traffic of the wicked, bravely wield your ox goad (the Sword of the Spirit) against the Philistines, or, like Jael, remain faithful and ready to serve when God’s deliverance comes.

In the valley, Jesus extended His “daily” call to all “Shamgars” and “Jaels”: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). That’s the secret to being always ready to swing the oxgoad or drive the final coffin nail!

At the table, my Shepherd anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup with His grace. Goodness and mercy arrived, took their place at my six, and followed us into the harvest.

Praying for revival! 🙏

Going live asap:

https://rumble.com/v71i9eo-shepherds-pasture.html

[*The name Shamgar is of “uncertain origin.” The consensus seems to be that it is derived from Israel’s Hittite neighbors and might therefore mean “warrior of the sun god.” It seems unlikely that an Israelite would have been given a name like this unless it was understood as in Malachi 4:2. Another tradition suggests it is a compound of shamar, meaning to guard, or watch, and gar, indicating a sojourner, which might mean Shamgar was a stranger, dwelling in the land. It could also be used to describe an Israelite dwelling in the land of Israel who was a champion used by God to protect His people.]