Leadership Lessons From the Life of David.

Cf. 2 Samuel 23:1-22.

What qualified David to lead the “mighty men” listed here?  And even more importantly, what would make men like this follow him?  Well, you remember 1 Samuel 17 and the Story of David the Giant-killer {and Goliath the Philistine taunting the armies of the Living God}?  You know what happened this faith-filled day, beyond the miracle of the stone, the sling, and the arrogant brought low?  David earned his credibility, like all great leaders, on the field of fire!  In the Battle.  The courage, the faith, the daring audacity of David were evident for all Israel to see this day.

The point is: Leadership must be earned.  You earn the right to lead and the privilege of having others follow, by your actions.  There is no doubt in my mind David knew that if God did not come through this moment, he was dead.

From the Story of Saul and Jonathan— from Saul’s devious envy and Jonathan’s faithful friendship we can see this.  Leaders are known not only by the friends they attract but by the enemies they make.  Oftentimes, not of their own doing.

In 1 Samuel 23 David and his men deliver the city of Keilah.  And the people of the city, the Lord tells him upon his asking, will turn him over to Saul.  There’s a couple of things we can learn here.

[i] Spiritual leadership demands spiritual guidance.  I’ll add that all leadership, to be eternally effective, needs divine direction.

[ii] Spiritual leadership not only demands divine guidance, but requires divine endurance {Heb. 12:1-3}.  “Let us run with endurance the Race which is set before us,” the Life which God has “marked out for us” {12:1d}.

[iii] Don’t expect gratitude from everyone you serve {maybe even anyone you serve}.  Some people whose lives you’ve labored over will turn on you.  Some will run in your hour of need; others will join the ranks of the enemy.  You know what occurred to me along these lines?  Their betrayal says much more about them than anything they can make up about you!

During the time of David’s wilderness wandering, on the lam from Saul and his men, on at least two separate occasions he has the opportunity to kill Saul ...and doesn’t take it.  Out of respect for His God and respect for His King— “the LORD’s Anointed” {1 Sam. 24:6}.  His son, Absalom, will demonstrate one day that he has neither of these.

The lesson?  Real leaders know and understand, “‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ say’s the Lord, ‘I will recompense!’” {Rom. 12:19:b}.

From the phenomenal narrative of Abigail and David in 1 Samuel 25 comes a lesson reflected many centuries later by Sun-tzu, the great Chinese philosopher, in his book The Art of War, “Great warriors fight great battles.”  Don’t get roped into an inessential skirmish.  Ask yourself this question, ‘In the end— by this I mean eternally— does it really matter?’

HJC	Ric Webb  |  Shepherd Heart’s Journey Community 9621 Tall Timber Blvd. |  Little Rock, AR 72204 t +1.501.455.0296
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