Shamgar was the third Judge of Israel whose heroic actions led to peace in Israel for an unspecified period of time. He is mentioned in only two verses in Scripture.
Judges 3:31 summarizes Shamgar’s period of rule. “After Ehud came Shamgar son of Anath, who struck down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad. He too saved Israel.”
We are only told that 1) Shamgar’s leadership followed Ehud’s, 2) he was the son of Anath, 3) he killed 600 Philistines with an oxgoad, and 4) he saved Israel.
An oxgoad was a 4- 6 foot long staff used to guide oxen while plowing. One end of the oxgoad had a sharp point or hooks to drive the oxen and the other end was clublike to remove debris or mud from the plow.
Though Shamgar is an obscure Biblical character he is credited with saving the nation of Israel. Judges 5:6 also mentions Shamgar and the lawlessness of Israel. Deborah, who was also a Judge in Israel, records in a song, “In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, / in the days of Jael, the highways were abandoned; travelers took to winding paths.”, we discover that in Shamgar’s time people traveled with caution and in much fear due to oppression by the Philistines and other villains.
We learn that Shamgar did what he could with what he had to accomplish God’s will.
God used one man with one simple weapon to rescue His people from oppression and God can use you to accomplish His will and purpose.
Offer what you have and do what you can to accomplish God’s will for your life. Ephesians 3:20 “Now to Him who is able to immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.”
Keith Stevens, Worship Pastor Balboa Baptist Church