- Judges 3:31 (NKJV) After him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who killed six hundred men of the Philistines with an ox goad; and he also delivered Israel.
I’ll like to pick back up on our train of thought from last Friday (it is short // check this link out to read it).
We are still developing a definition of success. Last Friday I suggested that an important dimension of success is: To be able to look at yourself in the mirror and know that you are doing what you were born to do with the anointing of the Holy Spirit and not in your own strength alone.
On Friday I highlighted the “destiny” part of the definition. Today I want us to look at the “anointing of the Holy Spirit” part.
One of my favorite “unknown” biblical characters is Shamgar. He is only mentioned twice and yet he was one of the leaders of Israel – called a “Judge” in those days.
In the days of Shamgar the people were greatly oppressed and in bondage to the Philistines. It appears that Shamgar was a farmer and one day he had had enough. He took his old ox goad (a stick) and let in on the Philistine army and when the dust settled six hundred of the Philistines laid dead! Amazing isn’t it.
Now the point of this is that what Shamgar did was unnatural. A normal man could not have done that. I have a great imagination and as a boy used sticks to be swords, guns, and many other things. But to actually use a stick against trained and fully equipped soldiers is beyond the realm of possibility…unless…you are anointed by God.
I’m afraid that most people think of the anointing of God as something for other people – that small group of people who are really doing “God-work”. They are so wrong. Remember, everyone has a God-given destiny. Furthermore, to fulfill a “God-destiny” requires “God-strength”. In other words, the strength and abilities of God are at your disposal when you put yourself at His disposal.
- Whether a farmer or a football player
- Whether a housewife or a highway patrolman
- Whether a preacher or a plumber
It doesn’t matter, the anointing (God’s ability and strength) is available for that one who puts their life in God’s hands.
Bottom line: Dare to believe that God has a plan for your life and that He will anoint you to fulfill that plan.
Shamgar teaches us that you and God are always in the majority no matter how overwhelming the odds may be and no matter how limited your resources seem…even if all you’ve got is a stick.
The ONE THING 