Men’s Devotional | 2022 - Day 21
Stand Firm like Shammah
By Dr. Thomas D. Mullins
“Now after him was Shammah the son of Agee a Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered into a troop where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the people fled from the Philistines. But he took his stand in the midst of the plot, defended it and struck the Philistines; and the LORD brought about a great victory.”
2 Samuel 23:11–12
O ne of the greatest unsung heroes of the Old Testament is a guy by the name of Shammah. In his story, found in 2 Samuel 23:11-12, Shammah is attacked by the archenemy of Israel, the Philistines. The army of Israel fled, but Shammah stood his ground and fought, “And the Lord brought about a great victory.”
Where did Shammah‘s courage to stand and fight come from? Vastly outnumbered, he stood his ground despite his odds. Shammah was noted as one of David’s mighty men. This proves it matters who you hang out with and demonstrates how those closest to us have a major influence on our lives. The courage of these mighty men was contagious. Shammah had heard their stories of God’s power helping them to overcome. I believe Shammah summoned up the courage to stand and fight.
I also believe Shammah considered his surroundings. He stood on a field that was given to him, his family, and his people by the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and conquered by Joshua. He was not about to let an enemy take it away from him.
Finally, Shammah took a stand in that field, knowing he was not fighting alone. The Spirit of God was with him.
Men, think about it. Just as Patrick Morley says, “We are point men in a battle for the very souls of our family, and the battle will be won or lost by our leadership.”
We are fighting a battle for the very heart and souls of our families and our nation. The enemy is trying to intimidate us and take away what God has promised us.
Like Shammah, we must team up with other champions of the faith. Champions inspire us and encourage our faith to be strong in the fight. Like Shammah, we must recognize God’s purpose for our lives, families, and nation. We cannot surrender our families or nation to today’s pagan culture that wants to destroy everything God has intended for us.
Finally, we must realize we are not fighting the good fight of faith alone. God is with us. As the Apostle Paul said in Romans 8 verse 31, “If God is for us, who is against us?”
Victory is ours. Together, we will “STAND FIRM!”
Author Bio
Dr. Thomas D. Mullins
Senior Pastor Mullins is the founder of Christ Fellowship, an evangelical 14,000–member church in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. This nondenominational evangelical Christian church has grown from about 140 people to 14,000 people under Pastor Mullins’ guidance.
Pastor Mullins left a successful career as a football coach and athletic director to start the church. He was a well–respected coach at Palm Beach Gardens High School in the 1970s and at Georgetown College in Kentucky before becoming athletic director at Palm Beach Community College in Lake Worth. He started the church in 1984 while still working at the college, and has been there ever since.
He and his wife, Donna, have participated in global mission projects from India to Peru. They are the founders of “Place of Hope Children’s Home”.
