June 16, 2009
Dear St. Paul’s Family,
It’s been said that the toughest Bible passages are not the ones we don’t understand; it’s the ones we believe we know well enough. Such is the case for this Sunday’s text, the story of a young shepherd boy and a menacing giant.
We’ve heard the story of David and Goliath so many times that it has become its own cliché - the underdog emerges victorious. We’ve adopted it as our own cultural narrative: the colonies toppling the mother country, the last place team rising to first, the young karate kid knocking off the big guy at the end. We cheer for the underdogs because that’s who we think we are, convinced that the Goliaths in our lives don’t stand a chance.
That’s all well and good, for there is certainly ample evidence to support this. Consider the richly detailed description of Goliath’s armor: a bronze helmet, a 125-pound suit of armor, a 15-pound spear, and a shield so heavy he had someone carry it for him. In the opposite corner? A kid with a sling. No chance, buddy. This is like the New England Patriots playing a pee-wee football team. Roger Federer serving to some guy with a butterfly net. Or Tiger Woods golfing against, well, me.
But rather than overlay our own underdog narratives onto the story, maybe there’s a different perspective here. It’s found in this compelling behind-the-scenes-look at the moments before the battle:
Saul clothed David with his armour; he put a bronze helmet on his head and clothed him with a coat of mail. David strapped Saul’s sword over the armour, and he tried in vain to walk, for he was not used to them. Then David said to Saul, ‘I cannot walk with these; for I am not used to them.’ So David removed them. Then he took his staff in his hand, and chose five smooth stones from the wadi, and put them in his shepherd’s bag, in the pouch; his sling was in his hand, and he drew near to the Philistine.
Imagine what would have happened if David had slumped onto the battlefield armor-heavy, unable to move. Goliath would have rumbled over and clobbered him with one swoop. Instead, David chose to forego conventional methodology or fight Goliath on his own terms. And it was that choice (along with a well-placed pebble) that gave him the victory.
If he tried to fight Goliath giant-style, he’d lose. If he tried to match him pound for pound, strength for strength, he’d get crushed. So instead of fighting fire with fire, he reframed the conflict. He made it more about speed, precision, and rhetorical skill. Even though he was outweighed, out-armored, and out-experienced, he won because he changed the terms of battle.
Sure, David was an underdog. But he was also a sly dog. In the end, he defeated the enemy by choosing not to mimic the enemy.
The story of David and Goliath is one of breaking cycles and changing paradigms, and refusing to engage the enemy by becoming one in response. This is a message the Bible offers with great frequency: A soft answer turns away wrath, says Proverbs. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good, says Paul. Turn the other cheek, says Jesus.
So, indeed, let’s identify with the underdog, knowing that doing so demands a different kind of attack plan:
· Stripping away our protective armor by forgiving rather than retaliating.
· Engaging our adversaries with the power of words, rather than with brutish strength.
· Breaking the cycles of addictions that have been passed to us from generations.
· Refusing to fight terror of any kind by employing terrorist tactics.
· Responding to a harsh word with a calm word of understanding and cooperation.
Yes, the little guy won. But don’t overlook the way he did it. By refusing to engage the enemy on the enemy’s terms. By choosing cunning without diminishing confidence. By choosing to trust in God, rather than manufactured means.
Come this Sunday to hear more about this compelling and utterly intriguing story. Let’s hear this old, old story, with new, fresh ears. And let’s learn more about facing our giants, choosing the path of trust, faith, and confidence in God.
Grace and Peace,
Magrey
The Rev. Magrey R. deVega
St. Paul's United Methodist Church
531 W. Main St.
Cherokee, IA 51012
Ph: 712-225-3955
http://www.cherokeespumc.org
1 Samuel 17:41-50
41 The Philistine came on and drew near to David, with his shield-bearer in front of him.
42 When the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was only a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance.
43 The Philistine said to David, ‘Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?’ And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
44 The Philistine said to David, ‘Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the wild animals of the field.’
45 But David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with sword and spear and javelin; but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
46 This very day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head; and I will give the dead bodies of the Philistine army this very day to the birds of the air and to the wild animals of the earth, so that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel,
47 and that all this assembly may know that the Lord does not save by sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s and he will give you into our hand.’
48 When the Philistine drew nearer to meet David, David ran quickly towards the battle line to meet the Philistine.
49 David put his hand in his bag, took out a stone, slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead; the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground.
50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, striking down the Philistine and killing him; there was no sword in David’s hand. Then David ran and stood over the Philistine; he grasped his sword, drew it out of its sheath, and killed him; then he cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.
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