UMC20240623 - Its How You Live¶
This week's Old Testament reading brings us the famous story of David and Goliath, a story that's traditionally viewed as the classic tale where the little guy conquers the mighty giant against all odds. But Malcolm Gladwell, in his book David and Goliath, challenges this conventional interpretation, offering a fresh perspective on this ancient story.
In short, the story goes like this: The Israelite army is locked in a tense standoff with the Philistines. To resolve the conflict, the Philistines propose a duel between champions. Goliath, a colossal warrior, steps forward and taunts the Israelites for forty days, daring anyone to fight him. David, a young shepherd delivering food to his brothers on the front line, sees this and volunteers to confront the giant. Although King Saul offers his armor and sword, David declines, choosing instead to face Goliath with what he knows; his staff and sling. The rest is History.
Malcolm Gladwell suggests that David wasn't as much of an underdog as we often believe. He points out that ancient armies were made up of three types of troops: infantry (foot soldiers), cavalry (horsemen), and artillery (long-range attackers). David, with his sling, was part of this artillery group. Slingers were a powerful type of artillery, capable of accurately killing from hundreds of meters. Goliath, clad in heavy armor and wielding a huge sword, spear, and shield, boasted that no one could beat him in close combat. And he was right—no one could. But David didn’t fight Goliath on his terms. Instead, he brought a gun to a knife fight.
I always thought that the lesson of David and Goliath was about aiming high, setting big goals, and trusting that, with God's help, even someone small like me could conquer giants. However, the story goes deeper. It teaches us about the dangers of assumptions, overconfidence, and how what seems like a weakness can be a hidden strength. More importantly, it shows that the struggles of today prepare us for the opportunities of tomorrow.
David didn’t spend his life preparing to fight Goliath. Instead, his daily life, protecting his sheep, prepared him to be able to stand up in a time of crisis. Difficulty in life is only preparation. It forces creativity, adaptability and resilience.
Stop reaching, start living. Opportunities will arise.
Love, Cliff