Like David’s Sling

Like David’s Sling

The earth goes arcing swift around,
Whirled like David’s sling,
That once swung ’round a few times,
Hurled a smooth stone, chosen stone.
Home to its mark, the giant’s head, the polished stone flew.
Gave the lie to boasts and curses, laid the defiant low,
By David’s hand, the stone flew true and glorified the Lord.
So even now his greater Son twirls all this globe around the sun
A few times, only a handful, and upraises another son,
Or polished daughter, full of love and gratitude and faith.
And loosed! He slings his latest gem in the face of the cynics’ cynic,
He puts the lie forever to the ace of cursing, lord of hate,
He brings the evil boasting down, it crashes down,
As David did before, and all in a short few circuits of the earth about the sun.
Plead with the Lord of slings, Maker of the jewelled crown,
Plead for the swiftest arc, your soonest rise to meet God’s foe!
And down him, cast his boastings crashing down to earth!
The King of Love your shepherd is, who slew the lion and the bear,
Who, happy to receive your trust, will bring them low again.
Let dust declare the Victor,
Let nothing turn avenger
In the hands of your living Lord.

Philip Chamberlain, Branford ’70
© 2002 The Yale Standard Committee