It was the first game of the season. We had just completed summer football 3-a-days (yes, we had three practices a day in the Atlanta August heat). All off season, we had heard of the greatness of the Tucker team, led by a consensus all-American defensive end/fullback. Personally, it was my first big varsity game as a starter AND it was against the school where I knew many of the players (and fans from both sides). The stadium would be packed. To say the least, I was nervous.
Sitting in the courtyard of my high school an hour before getting on the bus to the stadium, our head coach sat us down for the climatic pre-game motivational talk. To my surprise, Coach Wilson raised a Bible, opened it to 1 Samuel 17, and promptly read the story of David and Goliath. The general theme. . . with faith, you can accomplish anything. Coach Wilson’s point was that with faith, we could beat our Goliath, Tucker. We were, I suppose, David.
We lost in an embarrassing blow-out. Goliath dominated us.
No offense to Coach Wilson, whom I really liked and respected, but upon second look, he completely missed on the main point of this story (and clearly the “motivational talk” was ineffectual as well).
Read this story again (1 Samuel 17), as I have this past week and see what you think. Upon second look, it reads very different to me than it did sitting in the senior courtyard that early September night.
Look again at this climatic section of the story (1 Samuel 17:45-47). . .
45 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a 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 day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. . . . that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47 and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hand.”
The story is about God! David is a background player. It is God’s strength and power that overcomes Goliath, not David’s faith. Life is about God, not us. “Victory” is about God, not us. God slayed Goliath, not David. David was obedient. David was courageous. However, if David had not shown up, God would have brought someone else along and whipped Goliath (and the Philistines).
While this information would probably not have helped motivate the Henderson Cougars that faithful September night against the vaunted Tucker Tigers, it is of great motivation to me now in life. Thank you Coach Wilson!
Because it is God who shows up and fights the battles, our faith and obedience are made effective. My part is to simply see what battles God has for us to fight and get involved. He will show up. We find which battles God wants to fight (and hence what He wants us to fight) by looking in the Bible. It really is that simple. We ultimately find purpose in life by seeing what battles God wants fought through the Bible and then joining with Him in the fight. Spoiler alert, God will win.
God will fight. He will win. He will get the honor. I will get the joy of seeing Him win.
Go Cougars! Oh, if I knew then what I know today about the bible! If you remember too, we always said the Lord’s Prayer before every game.
Peter, I totally remember that. I have a funny story about that exact thing that I was telling some folks here the other night. I’ll have to tell you it later on (maybe even blog about it). You remember that game. . . we got out rear ends handed to us!
Oh yeah, Coach Wilson called and told me to tell you to not be a Tom Dooley.
I can’t remember our fullback back then. And I would quip that even divine help couldn’t have helped Henderson, but if He was so inclined, it could’ve happened. We probably deserved a little humility.
Brett, nice comment. I think his name is Ricky Sutton. Does that ring a bell? Hope you are well!
Ah yes, from our Junior year (he was a year ahead of me). I played basketball with him (I was one of the faithful scrubs) and more than once I tried to take a charge only to bale and literally run away at the last moment. That dude was a brick house.
Yeah, he was terrifying to a 145 pound defensive back starting in his first varsity game. I looked over your blog and it looks great!
I love it that you worked Coach Wilson into this blog.
No doubt. . .