The Israelites were in a bad place. Their neighbors the Philistines would often come into the land of Israel in bands of raiding warriors at the most opportune time.
After the Israelites had worked their fields, sown their crops and were preparing to bring in the harvest, the Philistine raiders would invade, running out the Israelites in order to reap the yield of their labor and livelihood.
The Philistines stole the bounty of the land, while the Israelites were impoverished with little, if anything, to reward their year of hard work. This scenario was repeated many times over in the land of Israel. Until the day Shammah took a stand.
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.
II Samuel 23:11-12 (NIV)
Well over thirty years ago I found myself in a predicament similar to Shammah’s. I had worked long and hard. The enemy had invaded our territory and was threatening to steal everything that I had worked for and dreamed about. But like the biblical Shammah, I too decided to stand and fight.
The battle was not won in a day. Rather, it took many days of standing and learning how to fight. As He did for Israel, the Lord wrought a great victory on our behalf as well.
If you are tired of the enemy stealing the bounty of your hard work, it may be time to take a stand in your field. There are principles that must be learned and embraced in one’s life in order to be victorious. We pray you choose to stand and engage the enemy that has entered your field.
~ Wayne Bentz
“Mr. Shammah”