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 "And
after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who smote of the
Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad: and he also saved
Israel" (Jdg. 3:31).
Troy
Mulhollan, one of our faithful members, used this as his text
for a Wednesday night talk recently. He announced his subject, A
Man Named Shamgar, and commented, "That isn't a household
name around Burnet." True!
The
man is mentioned only once more in the Bible — in Judges 5:6.
And yet he, with Othniel (Jdg. 3:9-11), Ehud (3:15-30), and
others more widely acclaimed, "also saved Israel."
Does it really matter about "credits" if the deed is
rightly done, and the doer serves his purpose in life?
Was
Shamgar a simple working man-an ox driver? If so it wouldn't be
the first or last time God used plain ordinary folk to
accomplish His work. Jesus called fishermen, a tax collector,
and such to announce salvation to the world. The potential in
just plain folk, when serving God, is a sleeping giant. But your
part can be played only when you throw off the debilitating
concept that "God surely
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wouldn't use a nobody like me." In
humble earthen vessels the glory is clearly seen to be of God (2
Cor. 4:7).
Why
did Shamgar use an ox goad? It may have been the only type of
weapon available (1 Sam. 13:19-f.); or it may have been God's
way of showing that the victory is not in armor but in the Lord
(1 Sam. 17:47). Brother Troy said there was no way of knowing,
but suggested this plain ordinary oxen driver may simply have used
what he had. It is not a bad though with or without specific
information.
If
every plain, ordinary person could be persuaded to take what he
or she has — in talent, money, opportunity — and put it to
work for the Lord, we would begin to recognize the power of
leaven in meal, of salt spread throughout the world, of
tremendous candlepower. And, a dedicated worker will sharpen the
goad, trim the candle, do whatever is possible to make the best
use of what is available.
You
exist for a divine purpose. There are no little people with God.
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