I Chronicles 14:17
“Then the fame of David spread in all the lands; and the LORD brought the fear of him on all the nations.”
David’s life seems to be full of this. It started when young. He killed a lion and a bear while tending the family sheep. Samuel visits his family and seeks to anoint one of the sons king. After visiting all of the adult sons He asks Jesse, the father, if he has any more sons. He says, “Yes, he’s tending the sheep.” Samuel ask him to come. David does so and he’s anointed king.
Things go back to normal and Jesse asks David to bring lunch to his brothers who are at war. He does so and hears Goliath taunting Israel and blaspheming God. David inquires about fighting him. King Saul allows it. He wins and David is a hero.
I believe it was prior to this Saul asks David to come and play the harp to help calm him. Later David is asked to be a military officer and gets some success. He comes back to town to hear the cheer, “Saul has killed his thousands and David his ten thousands.” It was that upon hearing this Saul become jealous and sought to kill David. This lasted from eight to ten years. This time of David being on the run was a lesson to him not to be proud and to trust God.
The bible says that God honor His children who walk with Him and obey Him (I Samuel 2:30). It’s a reward. The one who walks with the Lord is an advertisement for God. Some come to Christ by that example. God rewards this one by bringing him honor.
God brings honor to His children because He loves them and wants to bless them. Just as any parent wants to bless their children God does as well. It’s not spoiling them. He wants us to be humble. It’s not about bragging. God sent His Son to be born in a barn with an audience of poor shepherds. He was raised in Nazareth, which was a poor area that was ridiculed. God does not want us to boast or act higher.
He teaches us lessons to be humble and dependent on God. David had his decade long lesson. So, He wants us to be humble. That being said He honors us. Psalm 23 says, “He prepareth a table for me in the presence of my enemies.” He gives us an honor banquet and allows it to be seen by those who don’t like us.
It brings glory to God and some to Christ. I can recall talking to a popular coworker and I can still see his expression when God planted favor towards me in his mind. Since then, he respects me. God is good.
God has His reasons for giving us honor. May we be faithful recipients and be faithful witnesses. Help us to be bold in our witness. God wants us to feel the joy of this honor, but that isn’t the end. We are to be faithful witnesses.
Thank You, Lord, for blessing us with honor. Help us to have the courage to use the platform you give us.