Submission Brings God's Favor

Then Jesse said to his son David, “Take now for your brothers an ephah of this dried grain and these ten loaves and run to your brothers at the camp. And carry these ten cheeses to the captain of their thousand…”  1 Samuel 17:17-18

I want you to ponder something. In the eyes of the world, what could be weaker against a trained and fearless soldier than a young boy who had no formal military training, no armor, dressed like a shepherd, and did not even carry any real weapons. You can understand why Goliath mocked this young shepherd boy. When David stepped into the battlefield, Goliath ask him sarcastically, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks” (1 Samuel 17:43).

This was not just a contest between two people. The Israelites and Philistines had agreed to each send a warrior who would represent their nation. The defeated warrior would commit his entire nation to become servants to the other nation. Obviously, there was a lot riding on this fight. And who does God send to represent Israel? Now, in natural terms, He sent probably the most unqualified person onto that battlefield in the Valley of Elah.

If you know about this story, you know that David wasn’t even in the army of Israel. David was only there to deliver bread and cheese to his brothers who were in the army. But David found himself standing on the battlefield as Israel’s representative against this Giant. So, from delivering bread and cheese, he was now being called on to deliver the entire nation of Israel. David was at the right place at the right time BECAUSE he humbled himself and SUBMITTED to his father’s instructions to deliver bread and cheese to his brothers.

Friends, this is something that we all need to understand. Submission to God’s appointed leadership will always cause God’s favor to flow in your life, and you will find yourself, like David, at the RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME. The Bible says that we should not despise the day of humble beginnings (Zech. 4:10). There wasn’t anything glamourous about delivering bread and cheese, but David did not rebel or despise it. And that put him in the Valley of Elah.

Remember, he had no military experience to represent the nation of Israel against a mighty giant who was a man of war from his youth. This is what God loves to do. He loves to take the foolish, weak and insignificant things to confound and shame the wise and mighty things of the world. So friends, humble yourself and submit to the authorities that God has placed above you. And when you are faithful to carry out the small task assigned to you, like David, His favor is released in your life and you might just find yourself doing great, wonderful and awesome things for God. God loves when we show our faithfulness to do His will.