Men of Valor: Shammah

by David Chadiwck

Did you know that in Ezekiel 48:35, God encourages Ezekiel, as Jerusalem is in ruins and God’s people await the rebuilding of the temple, that the name of the city would be Jehovah Shammah? It means “the Lord is there.”

Shammah. It is a powerful name! A name that is mentioned several times in the Bible. In the face of desolation, this name should remind each of us of God’s ever present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1). But it also reminds us of friends who are always there for us, as Shammah was for David.

In Shammah’s story, he is also called “a man of valor.” Isn’t it incredible how many times this phrase shows up in Scripture? Shammah, along with Jashobeam and Eleazar, was another one of David’s three mighty men.

As the Philistines attacked the Israelites, the Jews were overwhelmed by the battle and retreated. Has that ever happened to you? Sometimes, the fight can feel so intense and overwhelming. Victory seems elusive. The enemy tempts us to retreat and back down! But Shammah was not one of those people. He did not take Satan’s bait.

Instead, Shammah courageously resisted the temptation to back down in the face of his enemies. He stood alone against the troop of Philistines and defeated them himself in a field full of lentils! He single-handedly defeated his opponents.

Many scholars feel that Shammah was motivated to fight with such ferocity because the lentil field was a reminder of what sustained his wife and family. Some think Shammah owned a home on a lentil field. As he stood in the midst of the very sustenance he needed to care daily for those he loved most, many believe he felt a supernatural motivation to fight for his king and for his family.

Men of valor fight for their families. They are protectors. They create safety and security for those around them. They live with the future in mind and seek to establish hope in the midst of hopelessness. May all men be like Shammah!

This world certainly needs more men of valor. For you men reading this today, step up and become one of them!