Shamgar: God’s Deliverance Through The Unlikely

Introduction (Historical Hook)

In the American Revolution, farmers and blacksmiths — not trained soldiers — picked up whatever was in their hands to defend their homes. Some had muskets, others farm tools, and others only courage. History remembers them as the “Minutemen.” They remind us that sometimes God raises up ordinary people with ordinary tools to do extraordinary things.

Shamgar was such a man. His entire story is packed into one verse, but his lesson is timeless: God uses whoever is willing, with whatever they have, to bring deliverance for His people.

I. The Context of Shamgar (3:31a — “After him… Shamgar”)

Minor Judge:

Shamgar is one of six “minor judges” (little is written about them). But “minor” in text does not mean “minor” in significance.

His role shows that even brief obedience can bring lasting impact.

Unusual Background:

Name “Shamgar” likely not Hebrew, possibly Hurrian or Anatolian.

“Son of Anath” raises questions:

Anath = Canaanite goddess of war, or possibly a village (Beth Anath).

May indicate warrior guilds (“son of Anath” inscriptions are found on bronze weapons).

Shamgar may not have been ethnically Israelite — yet he is included among God’s deliverers (cf. Rahab, Ruth, Jael).

Historical Context:

Linked to Deborah’s time (Judges 5:6).

Fought Philistines — Sea Peoples, arriving in Canaan ~1175 BC, technologically advanced with iron weapons.

Application: Your background doesn’t disqualify you from God’s service. What matters is your allegiance to Him.

Discussion Question: What “disqualifiers” do people sometimes think keep them from serving God? How does Shamgar’s example challenge that?

II. The Weapon of Shamgar (3:31b — “with an ox goad”)

What is an oxgoad?

A farmer’s tool, 8–10 ft long, pointy end for prodding oxen, flat end for scraping plows.

In Clarke’s words: “In the hands of a strong, skilful man, such an instrument must be more dangerous and more fatal than any sword.”

Symbolism:

Shamgar is like Moses with a staff or David with a sling.

Ordinary tools become extraordinary when God empowers them.

Lesson: God doesn’t ask us for what we don’t have — He uses what’s already in our hands.

Application: Your “oxgoad” might be your job skills, a relationship, a gift of encouragement, or even suffering that God redeems for His glory.

Discussion Question: What’s an “oxgoad” in your life that God could use for His purposes if you yielded it to Him?

III. The Courage of Shamgar (3:31c — “killed six hundred Philistines”)

Impossible Odds:

Six hundred likely indicates a military unit, not just a random count.

Facing advanced Philistine warriors with a farm tool = humanly insane.

Yet one man plus God always outnumbers the enemy.

Possible Scenarios:

All at once in a pass, or over time in raids. Scripture is silent — but the effect is undeniable.

Cundall’s Note: Shamgar may not have been a “judge” in the formal sense but a warrior who struck a decisive blow. Either way, God used him for deliverance.

Application: The Christian life often feels like fighting six hundred with a stick. But faith takes the step anyway, trusting God to fight through us.

Discussion Question: What “six hundred” are God’s people facing in today’s culture? How can faith equip us to face overwhelming odds?

IV. The Deliverance of Shamgar (3:31d — “he also delivered Israel”)

Emphasis in Hebrew: “Even he saved Israel.”

Shamgar stands alongside Othniel and Ehud as God’s instrument of salvation.

God’s Creativity in Choosing Leaders:

Othniel — Spirit-filled judge.

Ehud — Left-handed strategist.

Shamgar — Improviser with a farm tool.

Deborah & Barak (next) — Prophetess and reluctant general.

Jael — A housewife with a tent peg.

Main Point: God delivers His people in many ways, through many kinds of people, but the true Deliverer is always the Lord.

Application: God doesn’t need perfect people or perfect strategies — just faithful people who will trust Him.

Discussion Question: How does Shamgar’s story point us ultimately to Jesus, our greater Deliverer?

Communion Message: “God’s Deliverance Through the Unlikely”

Family, as we’ve seen in the life of Shamgar, God uses the unexpected. A man with no impressive pedigree, no shining sword, and no military training was used by God to deliver His people with nothing more than a farmer’s tool. What mattered wasn’t Shamgar’s strength or weapon, but the God who empowered him.

Communion reminds us of the same truth: our Deliverance did not come through human strength, but through weakness. Jesus didn’t come with a sword to overthrow Rome. He came in humility, born in a manger, crucified on a cross — the very symbol of shame. Yet through that weakness came the greatest deliverance of all: salvation from sin and death.

Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 1:27: “But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty.” The cross looked like defeat — but in it, Jesus won victory.

As Shamgar with his oxgoad reminds us that God can use simple things for His glory, so the bread and the cup remind us that God used what looked like weakness to save the world.

So as we take the bread, we remember Christ’s body given for us. As we drink the cup, we remember His blood shed for the forgiveness of sins. And we proclaim this Deliverance until He comes again.

Transition to Communion:

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 (NKJV): “For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.”

Prayer Before the Bread

“Lord Jesus, we thank You for giving Your body for us. Just as You took what was ordinary and made it extraordinary — like Shamgar’s oxgoad — so You took Your own body, broken for us, and made it the instrument of our salvation. As we eat this bread, may we remember Your sacrifice with gratitude and faith. Amen.”

(Distribute and partake of the bread.)

Prayer Before the Cup

“Lord, we thank You for the blood of the new covenant, poured out for the forgiveness of sins. Just as Shamgar brought deliverance with what was in his hand, You brought eternal deliverance through the blood You shed. As we drink this cup, may we be strengthened in hope, remembering that we are washed clean and awaiting Your return. Amen.”

(Distribute and partake of the cup.)

Closing Communion Thought

“Family, as often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. May we walk in His strength this week, remembering that the God who used Shamgar with an oxgoad, and who saved us through the cross, is the same God who works through us today.”

“Let us bow our heads and thank the Lord for our Deliverer, Jesus Christ, who through the weakness of the cross has given us eternal victory. Then, together, we will share in the bread and the cup.”

Key Themes from Shamgar’s Story

God uses unlikely people. Outsider, “son of Anath,” but still a deliverer.

God uses ordinary tools. Oxgoad > sword in God’s hands.

God honors courageous faith. Standing against 600 Philistines.

God alone delivers His people. Shamgar is God’s instrument, but Yahweh is Savior.

Closing Charge

Shamgar only gets one verse — but one verse was enough to show us that faithfulness is never wasted in God’s hands.

Don’t wait until you have the “right weapon” — offer God what’s in your hand.

Don’t wait until you feel qualified — God delights in using outsiders and the overlooked.

Don’t wait until the odds look favorable — one person walking in faith can become God’s means of deliverance.

“Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,” says the Lord of hosts. (Zechariah 4:6)

This week’s charge: Take up your “oxgoad” — whatever God has given you — and use it in obedience and faith. Even one verse of faithfulness can echo for eternity.