For Sunday

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 291, 7 December 1929, Page 23 (Supplement)

For Sunday

A TWO FOLD CHARM There are som e stories we learnt in childhood about which we still feel the thrill in our adult years; yet we rarbly re-read them, unless it is to refresh the memory for telling the tale to the children of to-day. Even so Wg are inclined to consult some abridged edition done up in modern dress. But there is a naive charm about the stories of the Old Testament which no pen of these days can master. Whenever I have occasion to go back over gom e incident in the historical books, it is generally to find myself reading through chapter after chapter, far beyond my original intention. Thus recently as 1 dipped into the record of Samuel anointing the youthful David, it was only natural that the story of his startling victory over Goliath should be read also. Then another marked feature of the Bible’s never-fading charm stood out. I have told the epic-story of thi s epochal duel to hundreds of children, but as I went over it again a new light shone through and brought a fresh revelation for tne more mature years. Of course some critics would spend their time instructing us that a later editor made David the hero and that another should have the honour. One of them visited the spot and wrote: “Whatever th e scholar.; may decide, how-, /er, the imagination of the centuries is clear: we still see the fight between th e Philistine giant and the Hebrew shepherd boy. Moreover, whatever the facts may be, the truth is there—it is a verocious picture of David’s life work, crushing the Philistines.” CREATING THE OPPORTUNITY Let us note this point in the story. David was sent with food for his brethren and to se e how they fared. The armies were ready for battle when h e arrived, so David left his baggage with the keeper and ran to his brothers in front. Just then Goliath came forth with hi s shout of defiance; “Give me a man that we may fight together.” The men of Israel fled before the fury of th e giant. In answer to his questions they eagerly told David what reward should be given the man who could overcome this Philistine and take away their reproach. Eliab, like so many elder brothers, thought the youngster was giving an exhibition of side, and tried to put him in his place. But Saul, hearing of David, sent for him. The stripling quickly showed his quality. “And Saul said unto David, Go and the Lord be with thee.” But first he clothed the lad with his own apparel and helmet and coat of mail, and David girded on the king’s sword. But they hampered him so that he put them off. Then he took that which h e had proved—his staff, five smooth stones from out of the brook and his sling. “And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hastened, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand in his bag and took thence a stone, and slung it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead; and the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell upon his face to the earth. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David. Then David ran, and stood over th e Philistine, and took hi a sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, . and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.” THE KEY TO VICTORY Those of you who know Bunyan’s Pilgrim, I wish you all did, will recall how Christian and Hopeful wandered along By-Path Meadow and were taken captive by Giant Despair and were driven by him into a very dark dungeon of Doubting Castle. There they lay for some days without bread or drink, or light. After a week the Giant beat them sorely and later counselled them to take their own lives. It was only when they reached the utter extremity of distress that Christian remembered that in his bosom was a key called Promise. With this they opened every door and escaped to freedom. Whenever we are faced with a prob- 1 lem, or sOm e giant stands threateningly, in our pathway, do we not immediately start to discuss intricate plans, for* overcoming the difficulty, or getting round it? There is the temptation to say: “Oh, if only I had this, that, or the other.” We would gladly don Saul’s armour and gird us with his sword. But we have not proved them. Yet al] the time victory is in our own hands, if only we would use what we have proved. There are smooth stones for each of us in our brook of life. There is the key called Promise in every breast. There is triumph for the simple faith that dares to count on God' s strength in the use of the ordinary weapons others discarded. It is still true that God chooses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, the weak things to confound the mighty, the base and despised things, and the things that are not, to bring to nought the things that

“Our Master once took a child and placed him in the midst of His disciples, saying, 4 4 Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.” We need to remember this call to simplicity as we feel a o ill-equipped and look at the task to be done and seem to be meeting a giant with a sling. Think of the stupendous problem that Jesus had to face. What did He do? Ho went down to the brook and took twelve stones and made them the rocks upon which to build His church. They wer e twelve ignorant and unlearned men who were despised by the great oi His day. In one of his books, Harold Begbie tells u s about “F. 8. a man who spent his life bringing undergraduates to Christ. At a conference a man was disappointed by what looked like a lot of quite ordinary folks. The wall arose between him and the souls of others. F. 8., reading his thoughts, drew him aside, and whispered into hi a ear this question, 4 4 What would you have thought of the twelve apostles?” Well, what would you? And what would you have said about young David discarding Saul’s armour and taking the childlike weapons of a staff and sling against Goliath? Yet here is a key to victory—utilising the weapons you have learned to use, and out of a situation which seems certain to fail,, creating triumph. It is also the secret of efficiency—the discerning of •* op"

portunity where others would despair, the using of weapons which others would throw away, 44 A PRINCE’S BANNER” Waverod, then staggered backward hemmed by foes A craven hung along the battle’s edge And thought, “Had I a sword of keener steel, That blue blade that the Icing’s son bears —but this Blunt thing.” He snapped and flung it from his hand And cowering crept away and left the field. Then came the king's son, wounded, sore bestead, And weaponless, and saw the broken sword Hilt-buried in the dry and trodden sand* And ran and snatched it, and with battle-shout Lifted afresh, he hewed his enemies down And saved a great cause that heroic day.” H.G.G.