People fled as the Philistines encroached, inching closer to the Jew’s promised land. Fear overcame the crowd, driving them to turn and run, leaving everything behind to ensure their safety. As they ran the opposite direction, however, one man walked straight toward the enemy and positioned himself right smack dab in the center of the field. The Philistines clustered together in a troop, eager to steal anything they could grasp from God's chosen people.
Shammah, one of David's mightiest men, prepared for battle in the open field, smiling to himself at the God-given opportunity to witness the Lord bring about a great victory. The territory possessed such high value to this man of war and valor that he defended it alone.
And he victoriously slaughtered the Philistines and guarded a piece of ground full of …
Lentils.
Yes, lentils. The proper translation of lentils is lentils, the green bushy plant.
Shammah refused to compromise on guarding a field covered in lentils. He knew the importance of protecting the small, seemingly insignificant things such as a plot of lentils, in order to guard himself and others from further and larger conquests.
And it wasn't only a territorial dispute. It was and is a spiritual matter. It's a faithful-in-little-faithful-in-much type of battle, one of tremendous revelation into Shammah's character.
I can see why King David kept him so close.
I compromised on my lentils during my Race and soon enough, I couldn't defend the rest of my garden. Weeds took root and beautiful flowers began to shrivel and suffocate. And it all started when I believed the lentils in my life didn't possess incredible value to my Father. I jeopardized the garden of my heart and soul by handing over my lentils to the one whose only desire is to steal, kill and destroy. He wasn't only after my lentils, but the entire garden.
I see now how everything matters to God, even the lowly lentils. I'm eager and excited to protect my lentils in the same manner as Shammah: with a great victory.
Shammah's infamously known for mightily guarding a field full of lentils from a troop of Philistines. It's one of the reasons he’s mentioned in the Bible.
The lentils in life are important to God. We must protect those lentils.
