More than a Pea Patch (3)

2 Samuel 23:8-12

We live in a great big world — a world that celebrates the larger‑than‑life figures.  

A world obsessed with headlines, platforms, followers, and influence.  

A world that shines its spotlight on the loud, the famous, the powerful, and the impressive.

And because of that, many of us feel overlooked.  

We feel small.  

We feel insignificant.  

We feel like our lives don’t make much noise.  

We feel like our efforts don’t make much difference.  

We feel like our field — our little patch of ground — doesn’t matter.

We look at the size of the world and the size of our lives,  

and we start to believe the lie that small equals useless…  

that unnoticed equals unimportant…  

that quiet equals meaningless.

But in 2 Samuel 23, God reminds us of something powerful:  

He sees the small places.  

He values the small assignments.  

He honors the small people.  

And He steps into the small fields.

Shammah didn’t stand in a palace.  

He didn’t stand on a platform.  

He didn’t stand in a spotlight.  

He stood in a pea patch — a small field that everyone else ran away from.

But God was there.  

God was present.  

God was watching.  

And God turned that small field into a great victory.

In a world that celebrates the big, God celebrates the faithful.  

In a world that chases the grand, God honors the grounded.  

In a world that overlooks the small, God steps into the lentil field.

And maybe today you feel small…  

but the God of Shammah is with you.

Presence of God- God was with Shammah.

We don’t know much about him. We don’t know much about his father.

His father’s name means fugitive. Maybe he was.

God is with those who are not so well known.

God is with those who are not so big.

God is with those who feel small.

God is with those who feel unimportant.

God is with those who feel weak.

God is with those who feel insignificant.

You may feel small and insignificant in this great big world but the presence of God is with you.

You may feel like your influence is small but the presence of God is with you.

You may feel like your following is small but the presence of God is with you.

You may feel like your ministry is not making a big difference but the presence is with for you.

You may feel like your impact is weak but the presence of God is with you and the promises are worth claiming, staking, and fighting for.

Protection of God- what we stand to guard he protects

Shammah’s defining moment is protecting a pea patch from the Philistines. This isn’t a news worthy story.

This isn’t a noteworthy loot.

This isn’t a fight that others were willing to shoulder.

This isn’t a battle others considered worthy of their time or energy.

Others deserted the field of lintels and fled.

Other people may not think much of your lot.

Others may not see anything significant that is worth fighting for.

Shammah chose to station himself in the middle of the field and defend it.

God uses people to protect what belongs to Him and His people. the people fled in fear but Shammah stationed himself in the middle of the pea patch, intent on defending it. to some it may have been a small thing with a small crop that wasn’t worth defending but it was to Shammah and it was to God.

It may not have been worth the risk to most but to Shammah it was worthy risking it all.

It may seem like an insignificant piece of ground with its peas but it was entrusted to Shammah.

Small places matter because they belong to God.

He was faithful in the small assignments He displayed courage when others retreated It isn’t described as a great piece of ground.

It isn’t described as a great stand of lentils. It isn’t described as a great bumper crop.

It isn’t described as a great location.

BUT, it is described as a “GREAT VICTORY”

The Pleasure of God- God is pleased with faithfulness. Shammah is noted here for his courage to defend this field of lentils.

This piece of ground full of lentils represents the following…

Provision- this would feed God’s people.

This was part of Israel’s spring harvest.

Protecting the provision was equivalent to protecting the community’s survival.

Shammah wasn’t defending a garrison or a battle filed or riches, he was defending the pantry.

The Philistines were stealing food

The soldiers saw a small field not worth dying for God saw His provision for His people.

The Bible is worth defending - it provides us with God’s revelation

The Gospel is worth defending - it provides us with Salvation

The Church is worth defending - it provides us with strength and fellowship

Promise - the piece of ground was given to them by a promise made to Abraham. If the Philistines were left unchallenged they would have seized a field that was the covenant gift of God to Israel.

People Who Didn’t Do Big Things — But God Used Them

1. The Widow With Two Mites (Mark 12:41–44)

She didn’t give a big offering.  

She didn’t fund a temple.  

She didn’t make a public sacrifice.  

She simply gave two small coins — and Jesus said she gave more than everyone.

A small act.  

A big God.  

A lasting testimony.

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2. The Boy With the Lunch (John 6:9)

He didn’t preach.  

He didn’t perform a miracle.  

He didn’t lead a crowd.  

He just handed Jesus five loaves and two fish.

A small lunch.  

A small offering.  

A small moment.  

But Jesus used it to feed thousands.

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3. The Servant Girl Who Spoke to Naaman (2 Kings 5:2–3)

She didn’t heal Naaman.  

She didn’t travel with him.  

She didn’t perform a miracle.  

She simply said, “There is a prophet in Israel.”

A small sentence.  

A small voice.  

A small servant.  

But God used her to start Naaman’s healing.

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4. The Widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:8–16)

She didn’t build Elijah a house.  

She didn’t host a revival.  

She didn’t give a feast.  

She just made one small cake with the last of her flour.

A small meal.  

A small act of obedience.  

A small kitchen.  

But God sustained her household for years.

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5. Ruth (Ruth 2–4)

She didn’t lead Israel.  

She didn’t perform miracles.  

She didn’t win battles.  

She simply gleaned in a field, cared for Naomi, and stayed faithful.

A small life.  

A small field.  

A small routine.  

But God wove her into the lineage of Christ.

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6. The Woman Who Broke the Alabaster Box (Mark 14:3–9)

She didn’t preach a sermon.  

She didn’t teach a class.  

She didn’t lead a ministry.  

She just broke a jar and poured perfume on Jesus.

A small act of devotion.  

A small moment.  

A small offering.  

But Jesus said, “Wherever the gospel is preached, this will be told.”

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7. The Poor Widow Who Fed Elijah (1 Kings 17)

She didn’t save a nation.  

She didn’t confront a king.  

She didn’t call down fire.  

She just fed one prophet one meal.

A small kindness.  

A small act.  

A small home.  

But God honored her faith.

Small Things People Do in the Church (That God Sees and Values)

1. The person who shows up early to unlock the building

No applause.  

No spotlight.  

But without them, nothing else happens.

2. The one who makes coffee every Sunday

It seems small, but it creates community, warmth, and welcome.

3. The nursery worker who rocks one baby so a parent can hear the Word

That’s a lentil field.  

That’s faithfulness.  

That’s kingdom work.

4. The person who quietly restocks the bathrooms

Nobody notices until it’s not done.  

God sees it every time.

5. The one who picks up trash in the parking lot

Small act.  

Big heart.

6. The greeter who smiles at people walking in

That smile may be the only kindness someone receives all week.

7. The person who sends one encouraging text to someone hurting

It’s not a sermon.  

It’s not a platform.  

But it’s ministry.

8. The volunteer who runs slides or sound

Nobody looks at them unless something goes wrong.  

But they help the whole church worship.

9. The person who prays quietly for the pastor before service

Nobody knows.  

But heaven hears.

10. The one who gives faithfully even when the amount seems small

God measures sacrifice, not size.

11. The person who cleans up after an event when everyone else has gone home

That’s Shammah’s field.  

That’s courage in the small places.

12. The teacher who prepares a lesson for three kids

Small class.  

Big impact.

13. The person who visits one shut‑in saint during the week

Not a crowd.  

Just one soul.  

But Jesus sees it.

14. The one who quietly fixes things around the church

A door hinge.  

A light bulb.  

A broken chair.  

Small repairs — big faithfulness.

15. The person who prays for the church every day with no recognition

That’s a lentil field.  

That’s a great victory waiting to happen.

Closing (Pastoral, Hopeful, and Personal)

Maybe today you feel like Shammah.  

Maybe you feel like you’re standing in a small field that nobody else thinks is worth defending.  

Maybe you feel like your life, your ministry, your influence, your impact —  

your little patch of ground — doesn’t matter very much.

Maybe you feel overlooked.  

Maybe you feel worn down.  

Maybe you feel defeated.  

Maybe you feel alone.

But hear this: God stands in your field.

He stands with the unknown.  

He stands with the overlooked.  

He stands with the discouraged.  

He stands with the weary.  

He stands with the ones who feel small in a big world.

Shammah didn’t win a great victory because he was great —  

he won a great victory because God was present,  

God was protecting,  

and God was pleased with his faithfulness.

And the same God who stood with Shammah  

stands with you.

Your field may feel small — but God is in it.  

Your assignment may feel insignificant — but God entrusted it to you.  

Your strength may feel weak — but God’s strength is made perfect in weakness.  

Your impact may feel limited — but God measures faithfulness, not fame.

Others may run from your field.  

Others may overlook your field.  

Others may dismiss your field.

But God never does.

And if you will stand — even in the small place,  

even in the quiet place,  

even in the lonely place —  

God can turn your small field into a great victory.

So don’t give up.  

Don’t walk away.  

Don’t despise the day of small things.  

Don’t underestimate what God can do with one person who refuses to flee.

Stand your ground.  

Stand in your field.  

Stand with your God.

Because the God who was with Shammah  

is with you.

And He still brings great victories  

in small fields  

through faithful hearts.