One man can make a difference in the outcome for a whole nation. We must never take this fact for granted.
Many find this fact hard to believe.
To help prove our point, let's look at a few of the great examples God gave to us throughout history.
HISTORICAL EXAMPLES OF HEROES
We could look at the story of King David. I'll bet you have heard his story told a million different ways. He was that brave young man who slay a giant with a simple sling-shot and five smooth stones. Remember?
Also; there is another amazing modern-day example. That is the story about the times of World War II and the battle at Hacksaw Ridge. In this battle we hear about a very brave man named Desmond Doss.
Then, we can ponder yet another great example from the scriptures that record the times of Israel's judges. Here is the story of Judge Shamgar; Israel's thrid judge. Shamgar has a lot in common with the first two heroes we've already mentioned. Let's make a few comparisons as we think about the effectiveness of all three of these heroes from history.
A JUDGE NAMED SHAMGAR
At first glance this judge named Shamgar might seem to be very insignificant. Not much is said about him in our bibles. There are only a few lines of scripture written.
The scriptures of Judges in Chapter Three mention him almost like an afterthought. This one little line is his final claim to fame:
(Judges 3:31) After Ehud came Shamgar Son of Anath who struck down 600 Philistines with an axgoad.
Then the scriptures move on to other subjects. Not much - huh?
600 OF GOD'S ENEMIES WERE ELIMINATED BY ONE MAN
It isn't how much they say that matters; it is only what those facts represent to us that is important.
Did you catch that part of the sentenance in the scripture passsage that noted and proclaimed this one man struck down 600 Philistines?
That wasn't an easy thing for one man to do!
Think of all the effort and fanfare that we usually bring out when stating the fact that David killed a giant with his little slingslot and five smooth stones. Now multiply that feat by 600. You begin to realize the importance of Judge Shamgar.
You might begin to understand the gravity of that one little sentenance the scriptures proclaim to us about this often unsung Israelite hero.
NAMED A STRANGER
Shamgar in Hebrew means "named a stranger." This seems very appropriate because he was practically overlooked in the history of Israel as a Judge. Thus, he was almost treated like a total stranger.
Yet; he killed 600 Philistines with an axgoad.
An axgoad is a strong stick about six to eight feet long. It would have been about six inches in diameter. These long boards usually have a metal tip on one end. The metal tip was originally intended to use to nudge an ox to move forward.
On the other end of the large stick was a flat, curved blade. It's original use was for cleaning a plow. I think Shamgar had a different type of harvest in mind when he picked up this instrument and used it as a weapon against Israel's enemies.
He probably delivered Israel with one or two fatal swoops over the Philistines with this oxgoad. That would have been an appropriate action for one of Israel's judges to take; since the word "judge" in Hebrew means "to deliver or to rule." He definitely delivered Israel from its enemies that day.
TAKING A STAND DURING DANGEROUS TIMES
Shamgar became a judge during one of the most trecherous times to be living in the land of Israel.
No one traveled the main highways. This was because of fear. There was danger everywhere, and a person could easily be killed as they traveled the public roads. Everyone used the byways instead of the highways.
Shamgar attacked the enemies of God who were ambushing those on the road. This happened during a time when no one else would stand up to the bandits and criminals of the day. He took down 600 Philistines in one day!
Shamgar was yet another Judge of Israel whom God used to teach the latest generation what it means to fight for righteousness. They did not know how to do this. Shamgar became the best example for their day.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF ONE MAN TAKING A STAND
As I heard Shamgar's story I thought of another story. I remembered a movie I viewed recently. It was about a war medic named Desmond Doss. He was yet another man who took a stand for God against all odds.
Private Doss enlisted in the army because he didn't want to stay at home and let other men do the fighting for him. He wanted to be a part of the cause for freedom.
Yet; Private Doss had some firm religious beliefs. He kept the Saturday Sabbath. Also; he didn't believe in using guns to kill people. He knew that his beliefs about these two commandments of God would keep him from ever fighting others in a war, or going to battle on the day that God had commanded all men to rest.
Still; Private Doss felt it was equally important that he be a part of the cure for freedom and liberty; and not a part of the problem. He joined the army to become a medic. It was his desire to help the wounded soldiers who were fighting for his freedom. That was the way God showed him how to participate in a righteous cause without breaking any of the commandments while doing so.
STANDING WHILE PERSECUTED
The army gave this determined soldier a very hard time. When they brought him to trial for his firm convictions, the following words were his reply. "It isn't right that other men should fight and die, that I would just be sitting at home safe. I need to serve." - (Desmond Doss.)
That statement seems so parallel with our other two heroic examples of how God was using one man to be a role model to many others, even when the people of the man's times had forgotten how to take a stand for God's ways. This story of Desmond Doss is very similar to the way God used Judge Shamgar in Israel. Both proved that the firm convictions of one man can make a difference in the outcome of a whole nation.
Doss was called a "conscientious objector" by the leaders in charge of his command. He countered their charge with the fact that he was trying to become a "conscientious co-operator."
More of his reasoning for his actions were given in the following words. "With the world so set on tearing itself apart, it doesn't seem like such a bad thing to me to want to put a little bit of it back together." - (Desmond Doss.)
ONE MAN CAN HELP TO REPAIR THE WORLD
That quote always reminds me of the Hebrew slogan "Tikkun Olam." Tikkun Olam simply means to "repair the world." We all do this when we live into the purpose that God created us to live into.
Desmond Doss, King David and Judge Shamgar all did their part in "Tikkun Olam."
They were God's shinning examples for the generations of their own times.
ONE MAN CAN HELP THE WOUNDED
Desmond Doss's only motivation was to serve God and his fellowman. When he was surrounded by the enemies on all sides, and everyone else retreated, Doss went on through impossible circumstances to rescure every soldier that he possibly could.
He was the only man left on a 400 ft. high ridge who remained with the wounded. The horribly injured lay before him as far as the eye could see. Enemies camped everywhere around them. It was a very dangerous war zone that Desmond Doss waded through to save them.
He treated the injured and dragged them one-by-one to the edge of a cliff. Private Doss then lowered each wounded warrior down to safety by using a rope sling. (There is that symbolism of David's sling again.) After each successful rescue; Doss prayed.
THREE MEN WHO KNEW THEIR SOURCE
The source of Doss's amazing strength was the same source of Judge Shamgar and King David after him.
Private Doss totally realized that God was his only source of strength, energy and durability. Each time he made a rescue; he prayed one simple prayer. That prayer to God helped him to go out and do it again.
The prayer of Private Doss, which is stated here, is one that we all could hold on to during our own attempts to be a better witness of Jesus Christ today; "Please, Lord. Help me get one more. Help me get one more." - (Desmond Doss.)
Many thanks to Mel Gibson for directing and producing yet another great movie that lives on as a shinning example of how one man can make a difference in the world.
If you spend enough time reading your bible; you will see MANY examples of how God constantly uses the one for the many.
So; let's all go on out there and get "one more" for God's Kingdom today. You may be the only Jesus that anyone ever sees.
Remember your source.
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