12. The Person of Shamgar, the Third Judge

The Person of Shamgar, the Third Judge

"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." (Judges 3:31)

If we read the book of Judges carefully, we will find that those who fought for God used many unorthodox methods. Shamgar is seen fighting with an ox goad (3:31); Ehud was left handed (3:15) - this was a characteristic of the tribe of Benjamin, for later on we find seven hundred Benjamites who were described as being left handed (20:16), an unusual thing. Ehud was out of the ordinary as being left handed; in a sense he was abnormal. We find also that Shamgar fought with an ox goad, and he killed six hundred Philistines with it. This was quite an achievement, and it has a meaning for us. The Philistines never showed any kindness to the people of God. This is seen in the books of Samuel, when David overcame firstly Goliath, and then the nation itself. David was another man who had a moral right to lead the people of God because of His success with Goliath. The Philistines occupied territory that they had no right to, it belonged to Israel. They had wandered into the territory and acquired it, and wanted to hold onto it. The Philistines represent the people who make a profession of Christianity, just like the Moabites in their kinship with Israel, but they had no living link with God. They were professors only, like those who the gospel describes as saying, "Lord , lord," and yet the Lord has to say, "I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (Matthew 7:22-23). This will never happen to any true believer in Christ. If we are sheltered with His blood then we are sheltered for time and for eternity, there will be no refusal for those who have accepted Christ as Saviour and Lord; but what an awful position for the professor, without any life, without any cleansing from guilt, to take the position of a Christian, to be baptised, to have the place in testimony as a Christian, and to have no life or knowledge of salvation. The Philistines represent this kind of person, they are in a position but without the possession of life and blessing from God. So how did Shamgar deal with them? Again, by using the Word of God. Is there anything in the New Testament to show that this is what it means? Yes, there is. When Saul of Tarsus was arrested on the Damascus road, the Lord said, "Saul, Saul..... it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks" (Acts 9:4-5). What the Lord was saying to him was, ’Saul, the Word of God has continually been brought to bear on your conscience, and you have rejected it. It is like a prick or a goad (an ox goad, if you like), continually pricking into your side reminding you that you are not right with God, and you are refusing those directions, and it is hard because you are not coming into blessing, you have not got liberty or joy, simply because you are not being obedient’. Saul of Tarsus bowed that day, and said, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" (v.6), and he followed the Lord ever after. When I was in Israel some years ago, I saw an Arab ploughing with an ox and an ass, an unequal yoke, and the evidence of this statement was there before me. The Arab had a long pole in his hand, eight or nine feet long, and on the end was a sharp piece of metal. The animals did not move out of the straight and narrow way, but if they had they would have received a prod in their side with the sharp instrument. That would have been extremely sore and would have reminded them that they were not doing what the ploughman wanted them to do, and it would get them to return to the straight way. The more they sought their own will, the more prods they got with the goad; and the more they wanted their own way, the more painful the process. This is the illustration that the Lord was using with Saul of Tarsus. Thank God he bowed, and he had no more of those painful pricks.

We turn to Acts 2:1-47, and there were many people who believed the word that was preached. They received the forgiveness of their sins, and they were brought into joy, peace and liberty; but there were many more that refused, and in a sense, they were slain by the Word of God. If they did not eventually trust Christ they would die and a day would come when they would be judged because of their refusal to accept Christ as Saviour. We find in Acts 7:1-60 again a company of people who were presented with the word of God, and they refused it; and because they refused it, they lost the opportunity of blessing. All through the Acts of the Apostles the same story is told, people heard the word, some believed it and received blessing, and others refused the word and were ’slain’, not physically slain, but were brought under judgment because of their refusal to bow to the word of God. The truth either brings repentance or resentment, and those who resent the truth of the word of God being brought to bear upon their conscience and answering to it are morally slain before God, they have missed their opportunity and they are judged because they have refused that word. It is wise for us that when we hear the word of God pricking our conscience we obey it, we do not kick but accept what God has to say to us, and we openly accept it whether we be unconverted or converted, and get the blessing that it brings.

Ehud with a sword and Shamgar with an ox goad, would represent for us the same principles, the application of the word of God against everything that is contrary to His mind. It was true in those days, and how much more in our day, when, in a spiritual sense, we need to wield the word of God as a sword, we need to use it to reach people’s consciences, and if we do this effectively, we will acquire power and we will do something worthwhile for God in testimony for His pleasure and glory.

Let us remember the demeanour, the power and the ability of the Lord Jesus Christ in the midst of His enemies in using the word of God. This is the perfect example for us in our day. May we be like Him, hate as He hated, love as He loved, and be like Him in all our ways.