Lessons in Greatness

Lessons in Greatness

by Patricia Dailey
Senior Pastor, Bethel Revival Center
43 Norwood St.
Everett, MA 02149

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Humility

II Samuel 7:18
Then went King David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that Thou hast brought me hitherto?

"Who am I, O Lord God?"

Look at the humility King David had. He was a very, very humble man, a man who loved God with all of his heart. When we read the psalms of David, one thing stands out: he had a heart that wanted God — a man after God's own heart (see Acts 13:22).

Psalm 63:8
My soul followeth hard after thee: Thy right hand upholdeth me.

Moses was another man who asked, "Who am I, O Lord God?"

Exodus 3:11
And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?

"Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh?"

What humility these two great men of God had. We ought to be in that same place of humility before God.

I Peter 5:5
Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble!

Always remember, pride is not going to get you closer to God. In fact, if you are proud, He will resist you afar off. Don't let pride get in the way. Realize that God will draw nigh unto you when you get down and humble yourself before Him.

Obedience

Whatever God decides to do with you, just humble yourself and let Him take complete control of your life. It doesn't matter if He asks you to do some simple little thing that, maybe, in the natural way of thinking, you would say: "What will others think of me? If I do this, it's going to make a fool out of me!"

In your eyesight, in your mind, it may make a fool out of you to do that thing, but it might be the very thing that God would use. Who knows, your obedience might be used of God to bring thousands to Him. It could very well be that foolish thing which God wants to use to confound the wise.

Now, don't be just showing off, thinking God is telling you to do something! Make sure what is being told you is of God, and not just your imagination.

I've heard of someone who stood out on the street corner looking up and just pointing. As people began to draw near to see what he was pointing at, he began to preach about looking up, and many got saved.

If this is the way God leads you, then just obey. It doesn't matter whether or not it looks normal in the sight of men.

I Corinthians 1:21
For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

The Anointing

Now, King David, of all people, asked, "Who am I?" He could have said: "Look who I am, Lord. I'm king over Your people!" He could have had that way about him, but he was very humble before the Lord.

Moses was not eloquent. He not only asked, "Who am I, Lord?" But he also declared he couldn't speak well:

Exodus 4:10
And Moses said unto the LORD, O my LORD, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.

Moses was not an eloquent speaker; he didn't have a way with words.

But it's not how large a vocabulary people have: It's the anointing that comes upon them to speak that brings results! You could have the worst English, but when the anointing comes, it takes over, and the message gets across. Then there are results.

Why? Because it's a gift from God! It's the anointing that brings forth the words which the Lord wants a person to speak.

Galatians 6:3
For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

We are nothing, but God is able to make us something. Our inabilities don't stand in the way when God places His hand upon us. It's not theology that we need! We need a good foundation of the Scriptures: for as we speak the Scriptures under the anointing of the Spirit of God, the Scriptures will do what they are meant to do.

II Timothy 2:15
Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Remember from Where You Came

God brought David from a sheepcote, anointing him to be king in Saul's place (see I Samuel 16). David never forgot where he came from, even when he was on the throne ruling over God's people. He had a good opportunity to be lifted up with pride, but here he is talking to the Lord and asking, "Who am I?"

II Samuel 7:8
Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel

Back when Saul was called to be king of Israel, he was a goodly man. He was humble and shy . . . that is, before he became king.

I Samuel 10:20-22
And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken. When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken: and when they sought him, he could not be found. Therefore they inquired of the LORD further, if the man should yet come thither. And the LORD answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff.

As long as we stay small in our own eyes, we won't have any problems.

David was going to take King Saul's place.

Saul did well for a while, but there came a day in his life when he rejected the Word of the Lord, not doing as God had commanded him to do.

We want to be careful in all that we do, taking time to seek the Lord; putting Him first; and not allowing our hearts to go after something that is not the will of God.

God Looks On the Heart

I Samuel 16:6,7
And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD's anointed is before him. But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

Man looks on the outward — but God looks on the heart!

People who want to dress indecent like to justify themselves with this scripture: "God is looking on my heart, not on my outward appearance."

Now, in this Scripture, notice one thing: in referring to Eliab's outward appearance, nothing is said about clothing. It speaks of his countenance and of his stature.

I Samuel 16:8-10
Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this. Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this. Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these.

David — the youngest! David — the shepherd! David was out watching his father's sheep when his father sent for him to come before Samuel.

I Samuel 16:11-13
And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither. And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.

Mighty Through God

Some time after this we find David's three oldest brothers were in Saul's army, and a battle was in array. The Philistines were on the side of one mountain, and Israel was on the side of the other mountain, with a valley between them.

I Samuel 17:4
And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.

Goliath was a champion of the Philistines. He came out twice a day, defying Israel to send a man to fight with him.

I Samuel 17:11
When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.

But God hasn't given us the spirit of fear (II Timothy 1:7). We don't have to give in to the enemy's threats. We can do something about it.

Now, in the meantime, David's father sent David out to Saul's army to take some victuals to his brothers. When he got out there, he heard with his own ears what this uncircumcised Philistine was doing.

I Samuel 17:32
And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.

I thank God that David knew Whom he served. He saw God at work in his life, time after time.

I Samuel 17:33-37
And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth. And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: and I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.

Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.

Who delivered David? The Lord delivered him! David didn't take any credit for himself. He hadn't even gone out yet, but what a faith this young man declared! He knew that if God delivered him back then, then God would deliver him out of the hands of this uncircumcised Philistine. That was faith talking!

It wasn't what he could do. It was what God could do

It wasn't what he could do. It was what God could do through him. He knew God was going to deliver the Philistine into his hands.

I Samuel 17:38,39
And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail. And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.

Saul thought David had to have all of his big armor on. But David wasn't going to kid himself. He knew it was more than he could manage. He said, "I haven't even proved them."

Many would be lifted up if they could wear the king's armor! "Look at me!! Look at me! I'm important!" But not David.

I Samuel 17:42
And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.

David didn't look like he'd be able to fight. "What's this little kid doing out here? I've been a man of war from my youth. Can't he see I'm bigger than he is?"

I Samuel 17:49
And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.

What a great victory!

A Heart after God

We see all this greatness about David. When he became king, he could have boasted: "God, You know I did this and I did that. I'm so worthy of all this that I now have!" But, he didn't say that. Instead, he asked, "Who am I?" Oh, the humility of David.

We ought to see something else about David. God brought him from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to make him ruler over His people Israel. David had a real heart after God. When he was just a young person out there attending the sheep, he had his heart on God.

Psalm 23:1-3
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.

Yes, David had such a heart after God. Our hearts should just yearn to be like David when it comes to the things of God.

Psalm 42:1
As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, O God.

David was a human being like you and I are, but do we have the same great love for God that he had? If David could love God like this and have favor with Him, you and I can have it, too, for God is no respecter of persons!

Psalm 27:4
One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple.