Small Beginnings that led to Great Things

Some material taken from Underdogs to Overcomers - Sam Nobles
Now Jesse said to his son David, “Take this ephah of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread for your brothers and hurry to their camp. Take along these ten cheeses to the commander of their unit. See how your brothers are and bring back some assurance from them. They are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah, fighting against the Philistines.” Samuel 17:17-19

Saul was the firsrt king of Israel. His reign started out great but he became completely obstinate towards God and God sent Samuel to tell him that he was being relieved of his duty as king. Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to one of your neighbors—to one better than you. He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a human being, that he should change his mind.”  1 Samuel 15:28  God then called Samuel to go to Bethlehem to anoint one of Jesse’s sons as the next king.

Jesse lined all his sons up in a row, all but one, but he was too young anyway. He was his youngest son, out in the field tending the sheep.  Samuel had come to anoint the next king and David could stay with the sheep because he could not be the chosen one. But that son, the insignificant one out in the field, was exactly who God had chosen and who Samuel was there to anoint as the second king of Israel. I would imagine that when Jesus was born in a stable and laid in a manger, that inn keeper would have never believed He would be the king either. Jesse anointed David that day to be the king, but it wouldn’t be for many years to come.  However, David’s life was immediately changed.  

It wasn’t long after Samuel had anointed David as Israel’s next king, that a war broke out between Israel and the Philistines. Both armies lined up for battle in the Valley of Elah. David’s brothers were on the front lines of battle and David’s father sent him to the battle to deliver bread for his brothers and cheese to the army officers. 

Can you imagine how difficult it must have been for a teenage boy, who has just been anointed as king, to continue to be a shepherd for his dad’s sheep? Or deliver snacks to the front lines of battle? David probably had some moments where he thought that someone who had been anointed to be the future king should not have to do any chores or serve his brothers. David had to continue to submit to authority, knowing that one day he would be king and submit to no one.  The Lord did have a plan for David’s life, and it included the absolute power of ruling as a king, but he wasn’t king yet.  God still had a journey of growth for David to experience before he would be completely ready to step into his purpose. 

Sometimes God leaves us in a place for a while to mold us into His vessel.  We may feel like we are more important than the role we are having to carry out at the moment because we may be confident in our anointing and sure of His purpose for us. We might struggle because it seems like God is not moving in our life.  We may know that God has greater things for us, but there is purpose in every second of our lives - even the monotonous, mundane moments. God does some of the greatest work in ourlives in the “small things” of our lives - the “small” jobs, “small” roles, “small” circumstances, etc. Are you in a “small” place in your life today?  Are you waiting to finally get to move into the palace and take your seat on the throne?  God anoints us as His sons and daughters the minute we give our life to Him in Salvation.  We have been anointed early on, just like David.  We need to live anointed in every role He has for us - “big” or “small.”