I cry to you, LORD; I say, "You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living. – Psalm 142:5

Today's Scripture Reading (June 7, 2025): Psalm 142

Macho. In the English language, the use of the word seems to have arisen from the Spanish "macho" in 1928, almost a hundred years ago. The Spanish word simply indicates a male animal. For most of the word's English history, it has been used in a derogatory manner, describing something overtly or overly male. But there have been moments when the word was used positively. The Village People had a hit with a song entitled "Macho Man" in 1977. I am still unsure how "tongue in cheek" the song might have been intended to be, but the chorus just repeats two lines, "Macho, macho man, I gotta be a macho man." The band apparently formed from an advertisement in a newspaper that read, "Macho types wanted: must dance and have a moustache." Randy Jones, the original Village People Cowboy, remembers the genesis of the band and the song.

"The Monday after Thanksgiving (1977), we signed contracts and the Tuesday after, we were in studio recording "Macho Man", with Victor Willis' handwritten lyrics that were written in the morning with egg stains and coffee rings on it. Everything was happening that quickly" (Randy Jones).

Professional wrestling had its own "Macho Man." Randy Savage (1952-2011) used the nickname during his career, again profiling the word "Macho" in a positive way. I think what I remember most about Savage is his distinctive and aggressive voice and posture in media interviews, maybe stressing the "machoness" of his personality.

I am not a “Macho Man.” And neither was David. As he writes this Psalm, there is an honesty that many ancient Kings might have pushed back against, or at least revive during better times. David admits that as he hides from Saul in that cave, he has no macho left in him. He has run out of himself and can only rely on the goodness of his God.

However, while David does not claim to be a "Macho Man" in this Psalm, he does some macho things while he hides in that cave. Samuel tells that story.

He (Saul) came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave. The men said, "This is the day the Lord spoke of when he said to you, 'I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.'" Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul's robe (1 Samuel 24:3-4).

And then David felt guilty for doing such a thing to the sitting King. David's reality is that when he acted with courage like he did in that cave, or even when he stood as a child in front of a Giant, it wasn't the courage of a "Macho Man" that resided in him, but the courage that belonged entirely to David's God.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 23