April 13, 2025 • 21 mins
# 126 - Shamgar: The Unsung Hero - In this episode of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein, an army of 600 Philistines threatens Israel, and a simple farmer named Shamgar rises up with nothing but an oxgoad and unshakable faith. In this gripping tale of humble courage, God uses the ordinary to bring extraordinary deliverance.
Episode 126 of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein is inspired by the Book of Joshua.
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For more information about Yael Eckstein and IFCJ visit https://www.ifcj.org/
Today's opening prayer is inspired by 2 Corinthians 12:9 , “The Lord said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’”
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Show Notes:
(01:14) Intro with Yael Eckstein
(02:03) Shamgar: The Unsung Hero
(13:39) Reflection with Yael Eckstein
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Previously on the chosen people. Before the breaker of chains came,
the Lord would send lesser heroes, fractured and broken images
of the Deliverer to come.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
You all call me the Lord's man. You praised me
for my courage, and you have responded to my call.
Make no mistake, brothers, we are all the Lord's men.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
After forty years of protecting Israel alongside his family, Othneil
finally returned home to be at peace. Other nations, lean
and hungry circled the land as predators circled fattened sheep.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
Brothers, people of Israel, hear me, follow after me, for
the Lord has given your enemies, the Mobites, into your head.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
Do not fear. A Hood led his people to victory,
and for eighty years Israel knew peace. They would be
imperfect vessels in God's hands, crafted to lead Israel out
of itself inflicted destruction.
Speaker 4 (01:17):
Are we as brave all the time as we are
when nobody's watching. Are we willing to stand for what's
right even when nobody will remember us?
Speaker 5 (01:25):
Shell, Oh, my friends, from here in the Holy Land
of Israel, i'm ya l Exstein with the International Fellowship
of Christians and Jews and welcome to the Chosen People.
Take a moment today to follow the podcast. If you're
feeling extra grateful for these stories, we would love it
if you left us a review. I read every single
one of them, and if you're interested in hearing more
(01:48):
about the prophetic, life saving work of the Fellowship, you
can visit IFCJ dot Org.
Speaker 4 (01:55):
Let's begin. Sometimes the story's over before it even begins.
In this short episode inspired by Judges three, we meet
a man named Shamgar. It's a name we don't know,
in a face we won't see again. He isn't a king,
a prophet, or a warrior, just an ordinary man with
ordinary tools in the hands of an extraordinary god.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
Shamgar leaned into the plow, helping drive it downward into
the dirt. The oxen marched through the hard earth, churning
up stone and roots. The heat of the day pressed
down on his neck. Shamgar's muscles flexed and glistened in
the hot eastern sun. The oxen continued forward. One of
(02:42):
them was new to the job of plowing. He was
a young bull, and Shamgar was training him to plow correctly.
He kept his ox code in his hand, occasionally using
it to direct the young ox back in line. The
long and sturdy rod did the trick. It's pointed edge
and hook at the end were just sharp enough to
(03:03):
get the ox's attention without hurting it. The oxen were
heavy and massive creatures. It was a wonder to Shamgar
that such a small tool could be used to guide
such a mighty and unruly creature.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
I suppose humble things can't accomplish great works.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
Shamgar was no philosopher, but he did allow his mind
to ponder deep things. As he worked the fields. His
gaze wandered briefly to his two sons. Their laughter was
like music carried on the slight breeze that kissed the field.
He wiped his brow, smearing the sweat and dust across
his face, and called to them, you.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
See, whys a little sweat, little singing, and before you
know it, an entire field is ready for the seed.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
Shamgar ruffled his son's hair and pointed to the well.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
We'll need a trench dug from the well to here
in the center of the field.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
Who wants to break ground first? With a playful toss,
Shamgar sent the sickles spinning into their hands. The boys
scrambled and scuffled, tumbling in the dirt, until the younger
one seized his prize and bolted toward the well. Shamgar laughed,
the sound rich and unguarded.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
Don't break my tools, ha ha, or I'll have your
working twice aside to morrow.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
They smiled and waved at him. His heart warmed at
the sight of them. Shamgar released a satisfied sigh and
turned a cheek to the sun. A soft breeze whispered
in from the hills, giving Shamgar just enough respite from
the heat. He watched his boys run, filled with innocence.
He loved his plot of land away from the madness
(04:44):
of the cities. He desperately wanted his family safe from
the debased influence of the Canaanite dwellings. The rest of
Israel had lost its integrity in recent years, especially since
the death of Othniel and Aehud. Israel, the nation he loved,
had lost its heart. They were self gratifying, lazy, and cowards.
(05:08):
Shamgar didn't consider himself any of those things, although he
didn't consider himself a hero either. He was a farmer.
His greatest enemy was the hardened ground that needed plowing.
So there he was with his head down, content to
battle the earth so he could feed his family. Suddenly,
(05:29):
Shamgar heard a loud crack of two stones breaking against
each other. His sons had toppled over part of the well,
and the sound echoed downward to the field. The two
oxen were spooked by the sound and began to rage
in place. The plow lurched, its blades, swinging wide, narrowly
missing him. As the oxen panicked, Easy, you fools, Shamgar hissed.
(05:53):
Gripping the ox go tightly. He struck at their legs,
sharp and decisive, forcing them apart. Smacked one in the rear,
redirecting it away from the other. He smacked the other
on his front legs, causing him to recoil backward. Eventually,
Shamgar was able to move them away from the newly
plowed field. He led them to water and calmed them
(06:15):
as they drank.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
M silly beasts, There's nothing to be afraid of here.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
But even as he spoke, the earth trembled beneath his feet.
The ground was vibrating, and he could hear the faint,
distant sound of men. Shamgar's eyes widened with panic, his
heart seized as he climbed the hill to the well.
His boys were paralyzed at the sight before them. Beyond
(06:41):
the crest, he saw them a sea of Philistine warriors,
six hundred strong, their weapons glinting like the teeth of
wolves in the fading light. His breath caught. Shamgar turned back.
The faint silhouette of the nearest Israelite city stood in
the distance. Would show no mercy, not to the land,
(07:02):
not to its people, and certainly not to his family.
All that stood between God's people and the Philistine raiders
was Shamgar's farm. Yet Shamgar's panic was for more than
his nation. His wife and children wouldn't be spared from
such blood. First, Shamgar knew he had no other choice
but to fight. He grabbed his sons by the shoulders.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
Oh yeah, midle, go inside, your mother and sister. Move
everything you can to reinforce the door. Don't answer for anyone,
put me take the sickle with you.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
The boys hesitated, their eyes wide with fear. Shamgar knelt
and gripped their shoulders, his voice softening but firm.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
He's strong, courageous.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
My sons made a divorce, yet no good. They fled,
and Shamgar turned back to the approaching Horde. His farm
was the last boundary between these invaders and the people
of God. He looked down at the ox goad in
his hands, a humble weapon for a humble man. He
(08:06):
tore a strip from his tunic and bound the rod
tightly to his hand. The fire in his belly rose
fierce and unyielding. He would not let his family fall.
He would not let his people perish. He rolled his
neck back, drew in a deep breath, then charged toward
the Philistines. Shamgar had no time to calculate. He refused
(08:29):
to consider his own life as something worth preserving. He
simply moved with the power and strength of God's spirit
within him. His children needed protection. God's people needed protecting,
and if there was no one else at the border
to protect them, then he must Lord guide mid Shamgar's
(08:53):
legs burst with intense strength. He sprinted with fire in
his belly and passion in his bones. The six hundred
Philistines ran with great speed, not even noticing Shamgar headed
towards them. Shamgar bellowed at the top of his lungs.
The Lord's shepherding heart was upon him, and he would
not let the Philistine wolves near his sheep. He charged
(09:16):
his voice a roar, a defiant prayer, hurled into the chaos.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
Have I not commending you? Be strong and courageous. Do
not be afraid, Do not be disguised, For the Lord,
your God will be worth you wherever you go.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
Shamgar leaped into the fray with his ox goad. He
swung a stick at one of them, lodging the sharp
end into his timber. He delivered another blow to the
calf of another Philistine. It took a few moments for
the Philistines to realize someone was fighting among them. Shamgar
continued to slay each man one by one. With such
(10:03):
a small and insignificant object, God was slaying an entire art.
Shamgar wielded the gold like the sharpened blade of a
warrior king. The Philistines finally caught on to what was happening.
Shamgar struck one upwards in the jaw, leaving an opening
for him to run into some empty space. The Philistines
(10:25):
chased him down a ravine into the creek, jetting through
the nearby forest. Shamgar needed them bottlenecked if he was
going to prevail. As he crossed the creek, a Philistine
was able to strike him in the shoulder with an arrow.
He fell into the water, and immediately three philistines were
on him. Shamgar pushed off one of them with his legs,
(10:45):
crushed another shall with a stone, rolled backward, and poked
another in the eyes. Shamgar backed into the forest, beckoning
the remaining five hundred men onto uneven ground. The narrow
path was host to jetting roots and low hanging branches.
Ten men slashed their way through, but could not strike
Shamgar before the tip of his gold met their necks.
(11:08):
A dozen more broke through, but Shamgar struck them as well.
The Philistines were monsters, but there is no beast more
fierce than a father protecting his children. Shamgar no longer
played defense. He slowly and confidently moved forward, wielding his
gold like a painter does his brush. The forest was
(11:30):
his canvas. The blood of his enemies was the paint
by which he created his masterpiece of justice. Shamgar broke
(12:11):
through the Philistine wall, swinging from side to side, slashing
them down at every turn. He ran back to the creek,
where he launched himself into the Philistine commander. He leaned
his ringing into the man's neck, watching him drown under
the water. Then all was silent save for the trickling
(12:33):
of the stream. Shamgar rose and looked around. None were
left alive. He surveyed the carnage, ears perked to any
sound of an adversary. Silence. The birds had fled in fear.
The only sounds remaining with the rustling of leaves in
the breeze and Shamgar's labored breathing. Shamgar limped back to
(12:57):
the valley where the descending son kissed the mountain range
and painted his fields in a brilliant hue of amber.
Blood soaked his body from head to toe. He fell
to his knees in exhaustion. He prayed none had escaped
to harm his family. None had. His wife and children
(13:19):
ran out to him. He wept when he saw them,
relieved that God had spared them their farm and the
nation of Israel. He bellowed with tears of joy. Shanga
was the judge nobody knew of until much later he
was the chosen hero. None would remember like the others,
(13:41):
yet his bravery was known by God. Great things can
come from unexpected places.
Speaker 4 (13:57):
This story is so short, blink and you miss it.
Shamgar just a name, a brief mention, and a single
act of courage. No fanfare, no grand speeches, just one
moment of unexpected strength, a quiet rescue that feels almost accidental.
But in this kingdom of Israel, without a king, even
the smallest victories are precious. Shamgar's story reminds us that
(14:21):
God doesn't wait for perfect heroes. He doesn't need royal
bloodlines or famous warriors. He works through the humble, the unnoticed,
and the ones who might go unremembered if not for
these brief glimpses in scripture, Shamgar is not a kind
of hero that we would expect, not a prophet or
(14:41):
a prince, just a man with an ox God a
tool for farming, not war. Yet in God's hands it
becomes a weapon of deliverance. This is the beauty and
the mystery of how our God works. We see it
again and again throughout the story of Israel. Moses with
the simple staff, David with a shepherd's sling, and now
(15:03):
Shamgar with an ox code. None of them look like heroes,
but through them God delivers his chosen. People. Consider Abram
a man of little significance, with no means to expand
his legacy. But when he was called by God, he
was given a promise. Do you remember it? In Genesis twelve,
God visited Abram and gives him a calling. This is
(15:25):
what it says, get out of your country, from your family,
and from your father's house, to a land that I
will show you. In Hebrew, it's le lach me art
mimi mala de teja leers ascher ar eka. It continues,
I will make you a great nation, and I will
bless you and make you a great name, and you
(15:47):
shall be a blessing. The phrasing cure is significant. God
did not choose Abram because he was great. He chose
Abram and promised to make him great. Greatness is not
a prerequisite for God to use us. Rather, when we
choose to follow him, greatness follows Shemgar's story mirrors abrams, David's,
(16:12):
and Israel's seemingly small and unremarkable on the outside, but
capable of greatness in the hands of God. Now let's
talk a little bit about Samghar. To be considered an
important leader of the Chosen People in the Bible, the
leader has to be successful on two fronts, the political
(16:32):
and the military front, and the spiritual front. Here the
Bible tells us that Shamgar quote struck down six hundred
Philistines with an ox gode, he too saved Israel. So
Shamgar was very successful militarily. But Jewish tradition also knows
that this saving that Shamgar did when it says he
(16:56):
too saved Israel was only physical, yes, who wiped out
many of our enemies, the Philistines. But Jewish tradition aiants
Shemgar was not able to stop the people of Israel
from sinning, and so Shamgar is only mentioned in this
one verse in the entire Book of Judges, as well
(17:17):
as one other time when his name is only referenced.
You see, all of the judges who were considered great
also had a profound spiritual effect on the people, not
just physical, but Shamgar did not. This presents an important
model for our leaders today, for the Chosen People, and
for people of spirituality around the world who believe in
(17:40):
trust in God, their leader must be an example of
godliness as well. A leader must be spiritually strong along
with their political and military abilities. It's very interesting that,
unlike the other judges, the Bible doesn't tell us how
many years of tranquility Shemgar brought to the Holy Land
and after his military victory, because for the Chosen people,
(18:04):
tranquility doesn't just mean an absence of war, but it
also means the absence of sin. Sheamgar is an unlikely hero,
but his story isn't unique. The Bible is full of
these moments, people and tools that the world would dismiss
used by God for a greater purpose. Is a glimpse
of God's character and his ability to take the ordinary
(18:28):
and turn it into something extraordinary. Yet as inspiring as
this is, there's a sadness here as well, isn't there?
Because each brief moment of deliverance feels fleeting, doesn't it.
Shemgar's courage saves Israel, yes, but only for a time.
His story is over almost as soon as it begins,
(18:48):
as Israel's heart remains unchanged. This cycle, the rescue, the drift,
the return, is a symptom of a deeper need, a
longing for someone who won't falter or fade, someone who
is forever. My friends, are we looking for quick fixes,
(19:08):
a string of temporary rescues. Are we leaning on brief
moments of courage hoping to hold us steady? Or are
we ready for something more? Because true peace and true
deliverance don't come from the fleeting courage of flawed heroes.
They come from God. So maybe it's time to stop
searching for the next Shumgar, the next temporary fix, and
(19:31):
start looking to God's steady presence instead. He doesn't just
deliver us for a moment. He calls us to walk
with him each and every day. He calls us to
anchor ourselves in his enduring strength. In God's hands, even
the most ordinary life, the strangest tools, the briefest acts
(19:52):
of courage, like Shemghar's ox code, becomes part of his story.
Shemgar's story is a reminder that even in the smallest moments,
God is near. Let's not stop there. Let's seek his
piece that doesn't flicker and fade, but holds us steady
now and always in his promise of blessings.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
You can listen to The Chosen People with yle Eckstein
ad free by downloading and subscribing to the Prey dot
Com app today. This Prey dog comproduction is only made
possible by our dedicated team of creative talents. Steve Katina,
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producers of The Chosen People with Yile Eckstein, Edited by
(20:39):
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Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvado, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwold,
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(21:00):
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(21:22):
Chosen People with Yile Eckstein, Please rate and leave a review.
Previously on the chosen people. Before the breaker of chains came,
the Lord would send lesser heroes, fractured and broken images
of the Deliverer to come.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
You all call me the Lord's man. You praised me
for my courage, and you have responded to my call.
Make no mistake, brothers, we are all the Lord's men.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
After forty years of protecting Israel alongside his family, Othneil
finally returned home to be at peace. Other nations, lean
and hungry circled the land as predators circled fattened sheep.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
Brothers, people of Israel, hear me, follow after me, for
the Lord has given your enemies, the Mobites, into your head.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
Do not fear. A Hood led his people to victory,
and for eighty years Israel knew peace. They would be
imperfect vessels in God's hands, crafted to lead Israel out
of itself inflicted destruction.
Speaker 4 (01:17):
Are we as brave all the time as we are
when nobody's watching. Are we willing to stand for what's
right even when nobody will remember us?
Speaker 5 (01:25):
Shell, Oh, my friends, from here in the Holy Land
of Israel, i'm ya l Exstein with the International Fellowship
of Christians and Jews and welcome to the Chosen People.
Take a moment today to follow the podcast. If you're
feeling extra grateful for these stories, we would love it
if you left us a review. I read every single
one of them, and if you're interested in hearing more
(01:48):
about the prophetic, life saving work of the Fellowship, you
can visit IFCJ dot Org.
Speaker 4 (01:55):
Let's begin. Sometimes the story's over before it even begins.
In this short episode inspired by Judges three, we meet
a man named Shamgar. It's a name we don't know,
in a face we won't see again. He isn't a king,
a prophet, or a warrior, just an ordinary man with
ordinary tools in the hands of an extraordinary god.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
Shamgar leaned into the plow, helping drive it downward into
the dirt. The oxen marched through the hard earth, churning
up stone and roots. The heat of the day pressed
down on his neck. Shamgar's muscles flexed and glistened in
the hot eastern sun. The oxen continued forward. One of
(02:42):
them was new to the job of plowing. He was
a young bull, and Shamgar was training him to plow correctly.
He kept his ox code in his hand, occasionally using
it to direct the young ox back in line. The
long and sturdy rod did the trick. It's pointed edge
and hook at the end were just sharp enough to
(03:03):
get the ox's attention without hurting it. The oxen were
heavy and massive creatures. It was a wonder to Shamgar
that such a small tool could be used to guide
such a mighty and unruly creature.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
I suppose humble things can't accomplish great works.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
Shamgar was no philosopher, but he did allow his mind
to ponder deep things. As he worked the fields. His
gaze wandered briefly to his two sons. Their laughter was
like music carried on the slight breeze that kissed the field.
He wiped his brow, smearing the sweat and dust across
his face, and called to them, you.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
See, whys a little sweat, little singing, and before you
know it, an entire field is ready for the seed.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
Shamgar ruffled his son's hair and pointed to the well.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
We'll need a trench dug from the well to here
in the center of the field.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
Who wants to break ground first? With a playful toss,
Shamgar sent the sickles spinning into their hands. The boys
scrambled and scuffled, tumbling in the dirt, until the younger
one seized his prize and bolted toward the well. Shamgar laughed,
the sound rich and unguarded.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
Don't break my tools, ha ha, or I'll have your
working twice aside to morrow.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
They smiled and waved at him. His heart warmed at
the sight of them. Shamgar released a satisfied sigh and
turned a cheek to the sun. A soft breeze whispered
in from the hills, giving Shamgar just enough respite from
the heat. He watched his boys run, filled with innocence.
He loved his plot of land away from the madness
(04:44):
of the cities. He desperately wanted his family safe from
the debased influence of the Canaanite dwellings. The rest of
Israel had lost its integrity in recent years, especially since
the death of Othniel and Aehud. Israel, the nation he loved,
had lost its heart. They were self gratifying, lazy, and cowards.
(05:08):
Shamgar didn't consider himself any of those things, although he
didn't consider himself a hero either. He was a farmer.
His greatest enemy was the hardened ground that needed plowing.
So there he was with his head down, content to
battle the earth so he could feed his family. Suddenly,
(05:29):
Shamgar heard a loud crack of two stones breaking against
each other. His sons had toppled over part of the well,
and the sound echoed downward to the field. The two
oxen were spooked by the sound and began to rage
in place. The plow lurched, its blades, swinging wide, narrowly
missing him. As the oxen panicked, Easy, you fools, Shamgar hissed.
(05:53):
Gripping the ox go tightly. He struck at their legs,
sharp and decisive, forcing them apart. Smacked one in the rear,
redirecting it away from the other. He smacked the other
on his front legs, causing him to recoil backward. Eventually,
Shamgar was able to move them away from the newly
plowed field. He led them to water and calmed them
(06:15):
as they drank.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
M silly beasts, There's nothing to be afraid of here.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
But even as he spoke, the earth trembled beneath his feet.
The ground was vibrating, and he could hear the faint,
distant sound of men. Shamgar's eyes widened with panic, his
heart seized as he climbed the hill to the well.
His boys were paralyzed at the sight before them. Beyond
(06:41):
the crest, he saw them a sea of Philistine warriors,
six hundred strong, their weapons glinting like the teeth of
wolves in the fading light. His breath caught. Shamgar turned back.
The faint silhouette of the nearest Israelite city stood in
the distance. Would show no mercy, not to the land,
(07:02):
not to its people, and certainly not to his family.
All that stood between God's people and the Philistine raiders
was Shamgar's farm. Yet Shamgar's panic was for more than
his nation. His wife and children wouldn't be spared from
such blood. First, Shamgar knew he had no other choice
but to fight. He grabbed his sons by the shoulders.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
Oh yeah, midle, go inside, your mother and sister. Move
everything you can to reinforce the door. Don't answer for anyone,
put me take the sickle with you.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
The boys hesitated, their eyes wide with fear. Shamgar knelt
and gripped their shoulders, his voice softening but firm.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
He's strong, courageous.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
My sons made a divorce, yet no good. They fled,
and Shamgar turned back to the approaching Horde. His farm
was the last boundary between these invaders and the people
of God. He looked down at the ox goad in
his hands, a humble weapon for a humble man. He
(08:06):
tore a strip from his tunic and bound the rod
tightly to his hand. The fire in his belly rose
fierce and unyielding. He would not let his family fall.
He would not let his people perish. He rolled his
neck back, drew in a deep breath, then charged toward
the Philistines. Shamgar had no time to calculate. He refused
(08:29):
to consider his own life as something worth preserving. He
simply moved with the power and strength of God's spirit
within him. His children needed protection. God's people needed protecting,
and if there was no one else at the border
to protect them, then he must Lord guide mid Shamgar's
(08:53):
legs burst with intense strength. He sprinted with fire in
his belly and passion in his bones. The six hundred
Philistines ran with great speed, not even noticing Shamgar headed
towards them. Shamgar bellowed at the top of his lungs.
The Lord's shepherding heart was upon him, and he would
not let the Philistine wolves near his sheep. He charged
(09:16):
his voice a roar, a defiant prayer, hurled into the chaos.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
Have I not commending you? Be strong and courageous. Do
not be afraid, Do not be disguised, For the Lord,
your God will be worth you wherever you go.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
Shamgar leaped into the fray with his ox goad. He
swung a stick at one of them, lodging the sharp
end into his timber. He delivered another blow to the
calf of another Philistine. It took a few moments for
the Philistines to realize someone was fighting among them. Shamgar
continued to slay each man one by one. With such
(10:03):
a small and insignificant object, God was slaying an entire art.
Shamgar wielded the gold like the sharpened blade of a
warrior king. The Philistines finally caught on to what was happening.
Shamgar struck one upwards in the jaw, leaving an opening
for him to run into some empty space. The Philistines
(10:25):
chased him down a ravine into the creek, jetting through
the nearby forest. Shamgar needed them bottlenecked if he was
going to prevail. As he crossed the creek, a Philistine
was able to strike him in the shoulder with an arrow.
He fell into the water, and immediately three philistines were
on him. Shamgar pushed off one of them with his legs,
(10:45):
crushed another shall with a stone, rolled backward, and poked
another in the eyes. Shamgar backed into the forest, beckoning
the remaining five hundred men onto uneven ground. The narrow
path was host to jetting roots and low hanging branches.
Ten men slashed their way through, but could not strike
Shamgar before the tip of his gold met their necks.
(11:08):
A dozen more broke through, but Shamgar struck them as well.
The Philistines were monsters, but there is no beast more
fierce than a father protecting his children. Shamgar no longer
played defense. He slowly and confidently moved forward, wielding his
gold like a painter does his brush. The forest was
(11:30):
his canvas. The blood of his enemies was the paint
by which he created his masterpiece of justice. Shamgar broke
(12:11):
through the Philistine wall, swinging from side to side, slashing
them down at every turn. He ran back to the creek,
where he launched himself into the Philistine commander. He leaned
his ringing into the man's neck, watching him drown under
the water. Then all was silent save for the trickling
(12:33):
of the stream. Shamgar rose and looked around. None were
left alive. He surveyed the carnage, ears perked to any
sound of an adversary. Silence. The birds had fled in fear.
The only sounds remaining with the rustling of leaves in
the breeze and Shamgar's labored breathing. Shamgar limped back to
(12:57):
the valley where the descending son kissed the mountain range
and painted his fields in a brilliant hue of amber.
Blood soaked his body from head to toe. He fell
to his knees in exhaustion. He prayed none had escaped
to harm his family. None had. His wife and children
(13:19):
ran out to him. He wept when he saw them,
relieved that God had spared them their farm and the
nation of Israel. He bellowed with tears of joy. Shanga
was the judge nobody knew of until much later he
was the chosen hero. None would remember like the others,
(13:41):
yet his bravery was known by God. Great things can
come from unexpected places.
Speaker 4 (13:57):
This story is so short, blink and you miss it.
Shamgar just a name, a brief mention, and a single
act of courage. No fanfare, no grand speeches, just one
moment of unexpected strength, a quiet rescue that feels almost accidental.
But in this kingdom of Israel, without a king, even
the smallest victories are precious. Shamgar's story reminds us that
(14:21):
God doesn't wait for perfect heroes. He doesn't need royal
bloodlines or famous warriors. He works through the humble, the unnoticed,
and the ones who might go unremembered if not for
these brief glimpses in scripture, Shamgar is not a kind
of hero that we would expect, not a prophet or
(14:41):
a prince, just a man with an ox God a
tool for farming, not war. Yet in God's hands it
becomes a weapon of deliverance. This is the beauty and
the mystery of how our God works. We see it
again and again throughout the story of Israel. Moses with
the simple staff, David with a shepherd's sling, and now
(15:03):
Shamgar with an ox code. None of them look like heroes,
but through them God delivers his chosen. People. Consider Abram
a man of little significance, with no means to expand
his legacy. But when he was called by God, he
was given a promise. Do you remember it? In Genesis twelve,
God visited Abram and gives him a calling. This is
(15:25):
what it says, get out of your country, from your family,
and from your father's house, to a land that I
will show you. In Hebrew, it's le lach me art
mimi mala de teja leers ascher ar eka. It continues,
I will make you a great nation, and I will
bless you and make you a great name, and you
(15:47):
shall be a blessing. The phrasing cure is significant. God
did not choose Abram because he was great. He chose
Abram and promised to make him great. Greatness is not
a prerequisite for God to use us. Rather, when we
choose to follow him, greatness follows Shemgar's story mirrors abrams, David's,
(16:12):
and Israel's seemingly small and unremarkable on the outside, but
capable of greatness in the hands of God. Now let's
talk a little bit about Samghar. To be considered an
important leader of the Chosen People in the Bible, the
leader has to be successful on two fronts, the political
(16:32):
and the military front, and the spiritual front. Here the
Bible tells us that Shamgar quote struck down six hundred
Philistines with an ox gode, he too saved Israel. So
Shamgar was very successful militarily. But Jewish tradition also knows
that this saving that Shamgar did when it says he
(16:56):
too saved Israel was only physical, yes, who wiped out
many of our enemies, the Philistines. But Jewish tradition aiants
Shemgar was not able to stop the people of Israel
from sinning, and so Shamgar is only mentioned in this
one verse in the entire Book of Judges, as well
(17:17):
as one other time when his name is only referenced.
You see, all of the judges who were considered great
also had a profound spiritual effect on the people, not
just physical, but Shamgar did not. This presents an important
model for our leaders today, for the Chosen People, and
for people of spirituality around the world who believe in
(17:40):
trust in God, their leader must be an example of
godliness as well. A leader must be spiritually strong along
with their political and military abilities. It's very interesting that,
unlike the other judges, the Bible doesn't tell us how
many years of tranquility Shemgar brought to the Holy Land
and after his military victory, because for the Chosen people,
(18:04):
tranquility doesn't just mean an absence of war, but it
also means the absence of sin. Sheamgar is an unlikely hero,
but his story isn't unique. The Bible is full of
these moments, people and tools that the world would dismiss
used by God for a greater purpose. Is a glimpse
of God's character and his ability to take the ordinary
(18:28):
and turn it into something extraordinary. Yet as inspiring as
this is, there's a sadness here as well, isn't there?
Because each brief moment of deliverance feels fleeting, doesn't it.
Shemgar's courage saves Israel, yes, but only for a time.
His story is over almost as soon as it begins,
(18:48):
as Israel's heart remains unchanged. This cycle, the rescue, the drift,
the return, is a symptom of a deeper need, a
longing for someone who won't falter or fade, someone who
is forever. My friends, are we looking for quick fixes,
(19:08):
a string of temporary rescues. Are we leaning on brief
moments of courage hoping to hold us steady? Or are
we ready for something more? Because true peace and true
deliverance don't come from the fleeting courage of flawed heroes.
They come from God. So maybe it's time to stop
searching for the next Shumgar, the next temporary fix, and
(19:31):
start looking to God's steady presence instead. He doesn't just
deliver us for a moment. He calls us to walk
with him each and every day. He calls us to
anchor ourselves in his enduring strength. In God's hands, even
the most ordinary life, the strangest tools, the briefest acts
(19:52):
of courage, like Shemghar's ox code, becomes part of his story.
Shemgar's story is a reminder that even in the smallest moments,
God is near. Let's not stop there. Let's seek his
piece that doesn't flicker and fade, but holds us steady
now and always in his promise of blessings.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
You can listen to The Chosen People with yle Eckstein
ad free by downloading and subscribing to the Prey dot
Com app today. This Prey dog comproduction is only made
possible by our dedicated team of creative talents. Steve Katina,
Max Bard, Zach Shellabager and Ben Gammon are the executive
producers of The Chosen People with Yile Eckstein, Edited by
(20:39):
Alberto Avilla, narrated by Paul Coltefianu. Characters are voiced by
Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvado, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwold,
Sylvia Zaradoc, Thomas Copeland Junior, Rosanna Pilcher, and the opening
prayer is voiced by John Moore. Music by Andrew Morgan's
(21:00):
written by Aaron Salvado, Bree Rosalie and Chris Baig. Special
thanks to Bishop Paul Lanier, Robin van Ettin, Kayler Burrows,
Jocelyn Fuller, and the team at International Fellowship of Christians
and Jews. You can hear more Prey dot Com productions
on the Prey dot Com app, available on the Apple
App Store and Google Play Store. If you enjoyed The
(21:22):
Chosen People with Yile Eckstein, Please rate and leave a review.
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