Bible Text: 1 Samuel 17 and Mark 4:35-41 | Preacher: Rev. Jenn Geddes
Each Summer growing up I would spend a week or two visiting my Grandparents in London, ON. It was always a treat because it was a break from the usual routine and of course there were things I got away with at their house that would have never been tolerated at home. But my favourite thing about those visits is when Grandpa would read me stories. When I was small I would curl up on his lap as he read the various picture books. My favourite story was a classic tale of overcoming adversity. You might know it, it was called, “The Little Engine That Could.” It turns out that this story was first published in 1906 in the New York Tribune as part of a sermon by the Rev. Charles S. Wing. And subsequently it appeared in Wellspring for Young People, a Sunday School publication. I probably don’t need to tell you the plot but just in case you’ve forgotten. It is a story about a long train that must be pulled over a high, steep, mountain. The call goes out for help and after numerous large engines turn it down, it is a small engine who agrees to try. This engine is ridiculed for its diminutive size by much larger engines but by repeating the phrase, “I think I can, I think I can, I think I can” this little engine beats the odds and succeeds. The moral of the story being that with optimism and hard work, confidence and trust you can accomplish anything. I know that as many of us get older we grow sceptical and cynical of such an over simplified story. I wonder when this occurs, when is it that we start to debate and say, oh sure optimism helps but that’s just being naive. When is it that we begin to grow suspicious of people or programs or stories? I wonder what would happen if we started to have that optimism and confidence again in ourselves, in our churches, in God? I think I can, I think I can, I think I Can.
The story of David and Goliath is perhaps one of the best known stories in the Old Testament and I think it is because it holds similarities to that of the Little Engine. We all love the underdog stories- especially when the underdog wins. But this familiarity with the story can be problematic. Last week we heard how David was anointed King and while that was the first time we are introduced to the person David, David’s name comes up well before that passage. The Bible first references David in the previous book, the Book of Ruth. In fact the Book of Ruth’s last words are “Jesse of David.” Having this book end with David’s name leads us to the knowledge that we should expect great things from David. Yet, it is not until 16 chapters into 1st Samuel that we learn anything about him.
Not long after his anointing David ends up in the service of Saul as his court minstrel- in fact it is David’s playing on the lyre that relieves Saul of an evil spirit. Yet, David never forgets his roots. It says that David would go “back and forth from Saul to feed his father’s sheep in Bethlehem”. When a battle begins between the Philistines and Israel David finds himself among his usual flock. But on this particular day Jesse sends David on an errand- he’s told to go and take loaves of bread and cheese to his brothers and the commanders on the battlefield. David is sent on a relatively simple task, but as he approaches there is a full on battle, he drops his food and goes to the front lines to greet his brothers. I find this image rather funny, soliders are about to engage in battle whent their little brother shows up to say “hi”. But this allows David to hear the insults that Goliath hurls at the Israelites. While the rest of the soldiers are afraid of and dismayed by Goliath David seems fearless and more importantly David is shocked at the insults- not because they are an affront to him but because they are an affront to God. David eventually convinces Saul that he is the one who should face Goliath in battle- not because he is strong, not because he has the best weapons, but because he has tended his sheep and fought lions and bears. David says, “The Lord, who saved me from the paw of the bear will save me from the hand of this Philistine.” When David tells Saul about killing lions and bears, he does not do it to boast about his own strength or accomplishments; he attributes it all to God’s care.
Saul gives in and attempts to dress David in traditional battle gear but David can’t walk in them so he approaches Goliath in his bare shepherd’s clothes, his staff, five stones and a sling. Goliath continues to hurl insults and an exchange takes place. Each time David counters and is unnerved. Each time David’s confidence grows. Each time David’s version of “I think I can, I think I can, I think I can” gets stronger.
“Where did David get his confidence?, it didn’t come from his family. It came from being a shepherd. Through his solitude, through his poetry, through his simple vocation as a shepherd David developed a deep confidence in God. David overcomes Goliath not because of his own personal courage but rather because of his theological insight. David does not view any challenge without imagining that God can play a role in calming it.
The disciples could take a lesson or two from David. I find it fascinating that all the disciples are terrified by this storm. Remember, almost half of them are fishermen- so they are used to being in a boat on the water in a storm but their fear must mean that this storm is a doozey. Yet, Jesus sleeps calmly in the boat with an almost placid confidence. The disciples wake him and accuse him of indifference. How could he sleep through this! Then Jesus rebukes the storm and says, “Peace! Be Still!” Notice how Jesus doesn’t calm the storm as much as he overpowers it. In fact, he uses the same language when he rebukes an unclean spirit. Jesus is conducting ministry when he calms the storm. He demonstrates confidence and provides peace. Jesus ministers to the frightened disciples. But the result can also be scary too- who is this Jesus that he can control a storm?
We face challenging times. Our political landscape thrives on hatred. Our economics survive on a system based on greed. Our spiritual health as a society is very pour. These are giants that appear to be impossible to overcome and I think for most of us instead of thinking we can do something about it we cower or opt to do nothing. Like the disciples on the boat we are paralysed by fear. I know we all wish that things could go back to the days when people thought church was important and growing. But remember that while the church enjoyed that privilege it was also during the “golden age” of Christendom that the church’s worst acts occurred whether it was fuelling division among denominations or cultural genocide. We can’t go back to the way things were and we can’t remain stagnant. So, what options do we have? We must have confidence in God.
I am optimistic that this New Beginnings program will help us show our confidence. Jen De Combe shared with us that she gets calls weekly from churches asking for a resource that will help them re-vision, renew, and revive. And the reason she gets those calls is because the old models no longer work. We have been given this opportunity to try something new and I know it is concerning, I know we are worried, I know we are afraid because the giants in society continue to tell us the church is no longer relevant but we must have confidence. It is why our hymn following the sermon is “Precious Lord, Take my hand.” While it is a hymn that often comforts those in the latter stages in their life- we should all have confidence that the Lord can take our hands and lead us on in all stages of our life. Imagine the possibilities. We can use our space in a way that turns our church into a resource for the community, we can move into the future with confidence that we are doing God’s will and work. I know we can, I know we can, I know we can. Amen