Jehovah-Shammah – The Lord Is There

Happy New Year, dear reader! I hope, like our household, that you welcomed 2012 with open arms. No matter what the next 366 days bring (it’s Leap Year, too!), the LORD is already there as each day dawns. He’s waiting just for you…and I pray you experience the magnificence of His presence for where the Lord is, there you will find His glory.

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I love a good story. And I suspect you do, too…so grab your tea cup or coffee mug and settle in for a few minutes as we start out exploring this New Year together.

A month ago (Desert Days – Leaning On Her Beloved 11/30/11), I shared a ‘new day dawning’ in January for my husband and me upon leaving my employer of the past eight years. Now, January has arrived! And with it, the transition into expanding the ministry God has given us to steward – Shammahs Field LLC / Shammah Ministries.

As my husband was preparing to open his biblical counseling and prayer ministry practice back in 2004, one of the first things settled was the name by which this new endeavor was to be known. A heroic account in II Samuel 23:11-12 details the exploits of one certain man, namely Shammah (Shuh-maaw). He was one of David’s three mighty men that banded with him in courageous battle numerous times.

In the following excerpt, the Philistines had once again waited until the fields were harvest ready then descended on the Israelites’ land to strip it clean. All the hard work and labor invested in the seasons leading up to the harvest was an abusive cycle that only ended up benefiting the enemy. The Philistine army just had to raise their bushy eyebrows and look fierce, and it was enough to send the Israelites fleeing, leaving the fields unguarded and available for plundering. Until one man had had enough:

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.

Matthew Henry’s Commentary of the Bible has this to say:  “Shammah met with a party of the enemy that were foraging, and routed them. But observe, both concerning this exploit and the former, it is here said, The Lord wrought a great victory. Note, How great soever the bravery of the instruments is, the praise of the achievement must be given to God. These fought the battles, but God wrought the victory. Let not the strong man then glory in his strength, nor in any of his military operations, but let him that glories glory in the Lord.”

The spirit of Shammah rests upon my husband. Those who have passed through his counseling office have experienced his defense of the land of their lives that the enemy has plundered, while providing the time, safety and opportunity for the Lord to bring about great victories.

It is only because we took a stand in our own personal “field” and sought the Lord for great victories where before we had fled, that we can now be brave instruments in the hands of our mighty God.

As we enter 2012, Shammah’s saga continues. As I come alongside Wayne David in Shammahs Field, God’s next chapters in this story will be read by us as we turn the page of each day. To prepare, we are “enlarging the place of our tent, stretching our tent curtains wide, not holding back; lengthening our cords and strengthening our stakes.” (Isaiah 54:2)

There are fields yet to be defended, plots to be newly planted, and others to be brought into harvest. As Wayne continues counseling, studying and imparting to others, my heart’s desire is to partner with the Lord in building a Christian life coaching practice, more writing, developing new classes and teaching.

In the freshness of 2012, we invite your prayers that through Shammahs Field LLC / Shammah Ministries, God will achieve great victories, multiplied and abundant, like Shammah’s harvests.

Jehovah-Shammah is the last name of God in the Old Testament. He is the One who then, is also now, and will eternally be…”the LORD is there.”

And where the Lord is, there too is His glory.

Mrs. Shammah