In God’s eyes, a great man is not defined by position, power, or praise. A great man is shaped long before he is seen. He is formed under pressure, refined through waiting, and proven by obedience.
David understood this, even when it was painful. God had already told David that he would be king, but God did not tell him when. The promise was certain, but the timing was hidden. Before David could wear the crown, he had to learn how to carry it. When danger closed in, David ran to the cave of Adullam. That cave was not a failure of faith. It was preparation.
Men began to gather around him there—men who were in trouble, in debt, and discontented. They were not strong men or successful men. They were broken men. Yet they came because David offered something rare: direction rooted in faith. He did not push them forward with fear or force. He led them by example. He trusted God in the darkness. He waited when shortcuts were available. He obeyed when compromise would have been easier.
A great man leads; he does not push. There is a difference between movement and direction. When you push a car from behind, it may move, but no one is steering. There is effort, but no guidance. When you pull a car from the front, progress may be slower, but there is direction. Someone is guiding where it goes. Leadership works the same way. A great man goes ahead. He sets the pace. He shows the way.
This is why men followed David. Not because he forced them, but because they trusted his direction. Broken men became strong men because they were led with faith, patience, and humility. What began as a cave filled with the wounded became the foundation of a kingdom.
The same truth applies today. Men are under pressure, discouraged, and often told that strength is dangerous and conviction is outdated. They are urged to push harder, move faster, and take shortcuts. God calls men to something different. He calls them to stand firm, walk faithfully, and lead with humility. Direction matters more than speed. Character matters more than recognition.
Scripture reminds us, “The Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Sam 16:7). And again, “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time” (1 Pet 5:6).
Oswald Chambers wrote, “God gives us the vision, then He takes us down into the valley to batter us into the shape of the vision.” That is what the cave did for David, and that is what God still does today.
A great man in God’s eyes is not one who forces outcomes, but one who follows God fully and leads others by example. He allows the cave to refine him, not define him. He waits without quitting, leads without pushing, and trusts God when the timing is unclear.
What the world calls broken, God calls ready.