David’s Dream Team

The 1992 U.S. men’s Olympic basketball team, nicknamed the “Dream Team,” was the first American Olympic team to feature active NBA players. It was considered one of the strongest team in any sport and beat opponents by an average of 44 points each game. It won the gold against Croatia in the summer games in Barcelona. Some of the famous names of this team include Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, John Stockton, Karl Malone, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird. In June 1992 the team made its debut in Portland, Oregon, where they easily beat the Cubans 136 to 57 and prompted their coach, Miguel Calderon Gomez, to say, “You can’t cover the sun with your finger.”

Fans and opposing players all welcomed the Dream Team to the Olympics and wanted their pictures taken with them. But not everyone liked them. They received death threats and were guarded by soldiers with Uzis. The team was elected to Basketball’s Hall of Fame in 2010.

In the Bible, we find a “dream team” in the Old Testament. David had his “mighty men,” 37 in all, who were powerful warriors with stories of great victory. God used these soldiers to give Israel victory over its enemies. These are men who fought lions and single-handedly dispatched hundreds of Philistines. Three men broke though a stronghold of Philistines at Bethlehem just to get a drink of water for David.

But victory does not go to men; the glory goes to God. Many times in the Bible you will read, as in 2 Samuel 23, “So the Lord brought about a great victory” (v. 12). David’s dream team knew where all the power came from for beating the enemy—strength comes from the Lord. When we face our own enemies, we can be part of a dream team of heavenly hosts who will fight for us.

Key Bible Texts

And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them; (Deuteronomy 20:3 KJV)