STAYING IN THE PEA PATCH---2 SAMUEL 23:11-12

Intro: 2 Sam. 23 tells us about David's mighty men. These were a group of highly trained soldiers who fought with David and aided him in his victories. Among these men were three who served as David's personal bodyguards.

I want to focus in on Shammah, one of His Bodyguards. He is described as a man who took a stand against overwhelming odds and won a great victory by the help of the Lord.

The Bible tells us that the Philistines attacked the people of God. When they came, all the people ran away, except one man named Shammah!

He took his stand in a field of lentils, or peas and he won a great victory. I would like us to take just a few minutes this morning to look at this man Shammah and what he did just a little closer. There is a time to fight, even when others are running away.

I. V. 11 IT WAS A TIME OF GREAT CONFLICT ---The Bible is clear when it tells us that the Philistines were attacking the people of God.

A. When The Enemy Came -When the Philistines came, the people in the fields fled away. This lets us know that the enemy most likely came during the time of the harvest. It was the time when most of the people were occupied in the business of getting the crops in.

1. We are like the church of Ephesus--Rev. 2:1-7, they were busy for the Lord, but they did not even realize that the enemy had inflicted a mortal wound in their heart.

2. He has not left us without warning---1 Pet. 5:8. Neither has He left us without an example-Neh. 4:16-18.

B. Why The Enemy Came –Enemy Came For two reasons:

1.) To Inflict Casualties

2.) To Destroy The Crops. The Philistine Soldiers Would March Thru The Fields Trampling Down Crops And Slaughtering All That Stood In Their Way.

C. What The Enemy Found - This verse tells us that when the enemy came, all the people fled from before them.

Sounds just like some of the church doesn't it? Things will be going along just fine and the devil will stir up trouble. He'll use someone in the church to start a ruckus. When this happens, 99% of the people in the church flee from the scene of the battle. No one wants to take a stand. After all, we don't want to hurt anyone's feelings! We need to realize that this is the reason many churches are falling apart! No one has the courage to stand up against the enemy,  and say, "  By the grace of God, you will not destroy this pea patch!"

II. V. 12a IT WAS A TIME OF GREAT COURAGE

A. Shammah's Resolve - The Bible tells us that Shammah "stood". He resolved in his heart that he would fight for that pea patch. Maybe he had run before, but not this time! Today, he would stand and he would fight, even if it cost him his life!

B. Shammah's Reason - He knew that without food, the people would perish. He knew the people had to eat and that if they were going to eat, the fields had to be defended! I'll say it again.

Let me just suggest a few things this morning that are worth fighting for in this day and time. The church, the lost, the Word of God, old-fashioned praying, preaching and praising the Lord, clean living, the reputation of the church, our families, our young people, etc. These things are so important that they are literally worth dying for! Where are the Shammah's that will stand up and fight for things of God!

C. Shammah's Reward - The Bible tells us that Shammah slew the enemies of the people of God! Because he fought, he enjoyed a great victory! If he had run away like all the others, he would have been defeated. The enemy would have prevailed!

III. V. 12b IT WAS A TIME OF GREAT CONQUEST

A. The Lord Defeated The Enemy - This last part of verse 12 tells us that the One who really won the victory was God! He gave Shammah the ability to stand. He gave Shammah the power to fight. He gave Shammah the skill to win. He gave Shammah the victory over his enemies. Shammah may have held the sword, but it was God Who fought the battle!

·         It was the same when David walked into the valley against Goliath, or when Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego stood their ground, or when Daniel continued to pray in spite of what the kind commanded. Men take their stand because they are empowered by God! He gives the victory!

B. The Lord Defended The Ground - Because God had one man who was willing to stand, the fields were protected and the people were saved from starvation and from slavery!

End-The enemy is still attacking the people of God just as he did through the Philistines. And, just like, it was then, so people are still fleeing from the scene of the battle. Where do stand? Are you willing to stand idly by while the enemy ransacks the church? Or, like Shammah, are you willing to take your stand for God, regardless of the consequences and fight until the victory is won. Will you stay in the pea patch while other are running away? Why not come before the Lord this morning and tell Him that you know some things are worth dying for. Tell Him that you will take your stand for Him and that you will be found in the battle, regardless of what others do. Will you stay in the pea patch?