God Sees Us - Shamgar

After Ehud, Shamgar son of Anath rescued Israel. He once killed 600 Philistines with an ox goad.

Judges 3:31

One day, the great Renaissance artist Michelangelo joyfully overheard a group of people praising his Pietà a statue depicting Jesus on his mother’s knees after his death on the cross. His joy turned to chagrin when a man in the group attributed the work to another sculptor.

That night, Michelangelo returned to his sculpture and carved his name on it so that everyone would know whose work it was.

Most people like recognition for doing something of note, but the Bible teaches that we are to do our acts of kindness and obedience in a quiet, anonymous manner so that God can reward us when we enter his eternal Kingdom.

That will be the case for an Old Testament judge named Shamgar.

Shamgar was one of thirteen people who were judges in Israel. These men and women were responsible for maintaining law and order during some very dark times following Joshua’s death.

The exploits of some judges, such as Deborah, Gideon, Samson, Eli, and Samuel, rate extensive coverage in the Scriptures, whereas only two Bible verses mention Shamgar (see Judges 3:31; 5:6). Nothing is said about his spiritual convictions, family background, friends, or contemporary context. He is simply listed as “the son of Anath.”

The Bible says that Shamgar rescued Israel. He did this in a most heroic, unlikely fashion. He killed six hundred dreaded Philistines, using nothing but an ox goad, a wooden farm implement used to prod oxen.

Yet Shamgar earned only a passing mention in the Bible.

God had a purpose and a mission for Shamgar that left him in relative obscurity. Though his name isn’t prominent in Scripture, God is well aware of everything that Shamgar did for his nation and for the Lord.

Shamgar’s reward was waiting for him in heaven.

Though people may give you little recognition for your acts of obedience and faith, you can be sure that God sees, acknowledges, and records those things so that you can one day enjoy your reward.