Bend a Bow of Bronze

You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall. . . . He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze (Psalm 18:28, 29, 34).

An inscription above Psalm 18 says David sang these words "when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul." David had endured intense physical exertion—fighting the giant Goliath, running from the jealous King Saul, traveling on foot over rugged terrain, hiding in caves. He had spent himself emotionally—experiencing the joy of military conquest, the sadness of saying goodbye to his friend Jonathan, the torment of abusive treatment by the king, the bewilderment of being anointed as the eventual king of Israel but in the meantime having to flee for his life.

The challenges were demanding, but now David enjoyed the thrill of victory. Looking back, he could list a number of ways God had blessed him. The Lord kept him from burning out and brought light into his darkest moments. With the Lord's help, David believed he could "advance against a troop," or as an alternate translation says, "run through a barricade." When a wall got in the way, the Lord gave David the boost he needed to climb over it.

Brimming with faith, David used a striking metaphor to express his confidence in God. He exclaimed, "My arms can bend a bow of bronze!" Why would he make such a bold claim? Everyone knows that bronze is unbendable. Anyone can bend a bow made of wood or fiberglass, but whose arms are strong enough to bend an inflexible piece of metal?

But then, what makes someone think he can run a four-minute mile? Kick a 60-yard field-goal? Hit a 500-foot home run? Sink a full-court shot on the basketball court? Leap over a pole that's three feet higher than his head? Bowl a perfect game? Swim across the English Channel? Hit a hole in one on the golf course? All of these feats appear next to impossible to most of us, but all of them have been done.

Athletic achievements not only stretch our muscles; they stretch our capacity to dream. They push us past our lazy presumptions about what's possible. Athletics motivate us to exercise our bodies, develop mental toughness, and endure unpleasant discipline today that will help us succeed in the future.

For an exceptional athlete, bending a bow of bronze might mean achieving a personal record or leading his team to a state championship. For the rest of us, it probably means setting our sights on less impressive goals that require us to depend on God nonetheless. For some, to stop smoking seems nearly impossible. Others find it difficult to exercise 30 minutes a day, skip the doughnut and eat a piece of fruit, or go to bed an hour earlier at night. Still others bend their bow of bronze every time they complete a not-so-exciting routine of physical therapy or endure another round of chemotherapy.

When you face a necessary but daunting physical challenge that seems beyond your ability to achieve, remember: You can do all things through Christ who gives you strength.