“Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them. But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the Lord brought about a great victory.” (2 Samuel 23:11, 12)
What a great commentary at the end of the book of Second Samuel as David gives tribute to his “mighty men.” Shammah was an uncommon sort. When everyone else ran from the mighty gathering of Philistines, he defied the odds. He did the Mel Gibson “stand alone scene,” but he lived to tell about it. He stood for what was right, and he stood up for what was a possession of Israel – a field of lentils. Now I do enjoy lentil soup, but I don’t know if that’s a “field I’m willing to die on!” I love the language of the narrative. He took his stand in the middle of the field. Remember, he did this while others were trampling the lentil field to make a hasty get away! He didn’t slither into a corner and take ‘pot shots,’ he stood firmly in the middle and defied Philistines to take the field from him. He decided that the only way that they were going to get that field was to go through him!! What courage! What valor! What a love for lentils! The end result definitely justifies his position. He defended it and struck the Philistines down. It is because the Lord brought about a great victory!
God desires to show Himself faithful to those faithful and valiant to Him. God only would defend Israel and its national supply of lentils if one man was willing to “take his stand in the middle of the field.” And, so it is the same today some 3,000 years later. God desires us to stand for what is right and not be fearful of all that joins together against us. My friend, we live in a battle zone for Biblical values in America today. Be courageous! Be the Shammah who God will use to bring a great victory in your neighborhood, family, or work environment.
ACTION POINT:
Ask God where you need to stand up for Him. Then look for opportunities to defend His name and all of His righteousness. Do so with an attitude of tenderness and love.
