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Dodge ball
Dodge ball was NOT one of my favorite childhood games. I grew up with an older brother and bunch of neighborhood boys. We built forts and rode bikes. We’d stay out all day long. I knew, being a girl, I had to be tough. I didn’t want to be considered the weakest link or a “tag-along” although I often was. So I did my best to stand up to any challenge and be brave.
PINIMAGEI did own ONE Barbie doll. I actually asked for her for Christmas. I wanted her because her name was Suntan Barbie and the commercial made her seem incredibly cool. Since she was Suntan Barbie, I
thought you would sit her in the sun and her tan would get darker. Turns out, she did nothing but sit there. Her tan lines were just sprayed on! I sat her on my windowsill for several days checking on her tan and…nothing. I was disappointed, so I turned my attention back to soccer, baseball, basketball, kickball, or whatever else my brother and his friends were up to. But my least favorite of these was dodge ball.
We didn’t play dodge ball with a soft bouncy ball. We played with whatever ball we could find – soccer ball, basketball, you name it. So, as you can imagine, when a person got “pegged”, it hurt, especially when they got hit in the head. And for some reason that happened a lot. This was a game where everyone eventually met their demise and there was only one left standing in the end.
I learned this quickly. And so, whenever talks of dodge ball came up I would remember I was needed at home.
I’ve been thinking lately about how life can feel a lot like a game of dodge ball. As a girl I recall feelings of fear and despair because there was no place to hide. I recall my opponents often being bigger than me. They saw me as an easy target. This game had everything to do with survival. But one false move and I was out!
You ever feel like that in life? Just when one thing seems to be going well, there’s danger on another front? Sometimes it’s easy to feel “ganged up on” and find many areas of your life under attack at once.
This morning, I was reading in 2 Samuel. Here King David writes psalm of thanksgiving for God’s powerful deliverance and manifold blessing. King David was familiar with danger. He was a war commander. He was familiar with the battle. He knew what it was like to be pursued by his enemies. He talked often about how they sought to bring him down. He faced every kind of threat and hazard. What did David do in his trouble?
Let’s look at 2 Samuel 22
1 David sang this song to the LORD after the LORD had rescued him from all his enemies and from Saul.
2 These are the words he sang: “The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
3 my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the strength of my salvation, and my stronghold, my high tower, my savior, the one who saves me from violence.
4 I will call on the LORD, who is worthy of praise, for he saves me from my enemies.”
5 “The waves of death surrounded me; the floods of destruction swept over me.
6 The grave wrapped its ropes around me; death itself stared me in the face.
7 But in my distress I cried out to the LORD; yes, I called to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry reached his ears.”
8 “Then the earth quaked and trembled; the foundations of the heavens shook; they quaked because of his anger.
9 Smoke poured from his nostrils; fierce flames leaped from his mouth; glowing coals flamed forth from him.
10 He opened the heavens and came down; dark storm clouds were beneath his feet.
11 Mounted on a mighty angel, he flew, soaring on the wings of the wind.
12 He shrouded himself in darkness, veiling his approach with dense rain clouds.
13 A great brightness shone before him, and bolts of lightning blazed forth.
14 The LORD thundered from heaven; the Most High gave a mighty shout.
15 He shot his arrows and scattered his enemies; his lightning flashed, and they were confused.
16 Then at the command of the LORD, at the blast of his breath, the bottom of the sea could be seen, and the foundations of the earth were laid bare.”
17“He reached down from heaven and rescued me; he drew me out of deep waters.
18 He delivered me from my powerful enemies, from those who hated me and were too strong for me.
19 They attacked me at a moment when I was weakest, but the LORD upheld me.
20 He led me to a place of safety; he rescued me because he delights in me.
21 The LORD rewarded me for doing right; he compensated me because of my innocence.
22 For I have kept the ways of the LORD; I have not turned from my God to follow evil.
23 For all his laws are constantly before me; I have never abandoned his principles.
24 I am blameless before God; I have kept myself from sin.
25 The LORD rewarded me for doing right, because of my innocence in his sight.”
26 “To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity.
27 To the pure you show yourself pure, but to the wicked you show yourself hostile.
28 You rescue those who are humble, but your eyes are on the proud to humiliate them.
29 O LORD, you are my light; yes, LORD, you light up my darkness.
30 In your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall.”
31 “As for God, his way is perfect. All the LORD’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.
32 For who is God except the LORD? Who but our God is a solid rock?
33 God is my strong fortress; he has made my way safe.
34He makes me as surefooted as a deer, leading me safely along the mountain heights.
35 He prepares me for battle; he strengthens me to draw a bow of bronze.
36 You have given me the shield of your salvation; your help has made me great.
37 You have made a wide path for my feet to keep them from slipping.”
38 “I chased my enemies and destroyed them; I did not stop until they were conquered.
39 I consumed them; I struck them down so they could not get up; they fell beneath my feet.
40 You have armed me with strength for the battle; you have subdued my enemies under my feet.
41 You made them turn and run; I have destroyed all who hated me.
42 They called for help, but no one came to rescue them. They cried to the LORD, but he refused to answer them.
43 I ground them as fine as the dust of the earth; I swept them into the gutter like dirt.”
44 “You gave me victory over my accusers. You preserved me as the ruler over nations; people I don’t even know now serve me.
45 Foreigners cringe before me; as soon as they hear of me, they submit.
46 They all lose their courage and come trembling from their strongholds.”
47 “The LORD lives! Blessed be my rock! May God, the rock of my salvation, be exalted!
48 He is the God who pays back those who harm me; he subdues the nations under me
49 and rescues me from my enemies. You hold me safe beyond the reach of my enemies; you save me from violent opponents.
50 For this, O LORD, I will praise you among the nations; I will sing joyfully to your name.
51 You give great victories to your king; you show unfailing love to your anointed, to David and all his descendants forever.”
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I took some time today reading and re-reading this passage. I have found personal encouragement in the areas of my life where I face a battle. I have been reminded that:
- The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. (vs 2-3)
- He leads me to a place of safety; he rescues me because he delights in me. (v 20)
- He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.
- He is my refuge, my savior, the one who saves me from violence.
- The Lord is my lamp and He lights up my darkness (v 29)
- God is my strong fortress, and he makes my way perfect.
- He makes me as surefooted as a deer, enabling me to stand on mountain heights. (vs 33-34)
Are you in a battle today? Do you feel like you’ve been thrown into a dodge ball game you didn’t sign up for? Do you feel as though the enemies of fear, doubt and despair are closing in? Be reminded today from David’s personal account of God’s faithfulness to him that you can turn to God who will be your Shelter. He will fight for you. Submit to Him. Surrender your life and struggles to Him. He promises to keep you standing in the end.
