David: An Example of Leadership
I wrote this as part of one of my academy papers and it blessed me as I wrote, so I pray it blesses you all as well.
David is a great scriptural example of how the heart of a leader should function David is a personal favorite of mine concerning leadership because even though his position was king, he never forgot his first obligation was to God. Even before David became king, he was a worshipper of God, which is reflected through his writings in Psalm. Psalm expresses the passion David had for God as well as personal and political conflicts he encountered, which required the council of God. The essence of leadership is realizing all guidance, wisdom, knowledge, and revelation comes from God (He is our source). David knew that without the wisdom of God, he would be ineffective as a king.
John C. Maxwell in his book, The 21 Most Powerful Minutes in a Leader’s Day, characterizes David as a person who possessed “lids”(obstacles), but dealt with the lids in his life. As leaders, we all have various challenges to contend with as we pursue the calling God has placed on our lives, but we must face the challenges head on and deal with the issues. For this reason, David is an individual I personally admire as a leader because he had the courage to face the issues within his life. One of the issues David had to contend with was being overlooked. When the prophet Samuel came to the house of Jesse, Samuel saw all of David’s brothers and thought, “For sure I am looking at the next King of Israel.” In fact, the young man who would be anointed the next king was in the fields tending to his father’s sheep. God had to remind Samuel (yes, even the prophet) not to get caught up in the external trappings of leadership, but to seek a person after His own heart. How fitting God chose David because just as our Heavenly Father is the good shepherd watching over us, He looked for someone who was a good shepherd to his flock in the natural. As leaders, we should never shun small beginnings because God is watching to see if we are faithful over the few before we become ruler over the many!
Then, there was a personal lid in the person of Saul. Saul was not walking obediently as a king and so God removed His hand from Saul and found another man. Saul was so jealous of David and the anointing that rested upon his life that he attempted to kill David on several occasions. Yet in spite of opposition, David remembered the covenant he made with Jonathan (Saul’s son) and did not cause any physical harm to Saul (even when he had the opportunity). A good leader is consistent in their actions even when others around them are coming against them at full force. A real leader is born when in the face of opposition that person continues to portray the character of God.
The final lid David had to overcome was youthfulness and inexperience. When David was anointed as king as a youth, he possessed no experience in leading anyone but sheep (Maxwell 8). Also, when Goliath made challenges against the army of Israel, it was David (not experienced soldiers nor King Saul) who took the challenge against the Philistine. David had no military experience (which was frowned upon by others) yet David overcame the lid of inexperience by utilizing the tools he did possess. David knew that when his flock had been under the attack of a lion or bear he slew the animals to “protect his investment” (1 Samuel 17:34-36). David was also protecting the spiritual investment God had made in Israel that they would triumph over their enemies, so he stood in the confidence of God and was victorious over Goliath (1 Samuel 17: 50-51).
The question each leader needs to ask themselves is,” What are the personal lids I have within my life that are hindering my growth in God.” The enemy would love nothing more than for the people of God to remain contained and bound by oppressive thoughts and experiencing depressive symptoms. David is an encouragement for each of us as God’s generals (leaders) that when you place your security in God, not on personal abilities or inabilities, God will do the rest. Stand still and let the Lord fight your battles!
David is a great scriptural example of how the heart of a leader should function David is a personal favorite of mine concerning leadership because even though his position was king, he never forgot his first obligation was to God. Even before David became king, he was a worshipper of God, which is reflected through his writings in Psalm. Psalm expresses the passion David had for God as well as personal and political conflicts he encountered, which required the council of God. The essence of leadership is realizing all guidance, wisdom, knowledge, and revelation comes from God (He is our source). David knew that without the wisdom of God, he would be ineffective as a king.
John C. Maxwell in his book, The 21 Most Powerful Minutes in a Leader’s Day, characterizes David as a person who possessed “lids”(obstacles), but dealt with the lids in his life. As leaders, we all have various challenges to contend with as we pursue the calling God has placed on our lives, but we must face the challenges head on and deal with the issues. For this reason, David is an individual I personally admire as a leader because he had the courage to face the issues within his life. One of the issues David had to contend with was being overlooked. When the prophet Samuel came to the house of Jesse, Samuel saw all of David’s brothers and thought, “For sure I am looking at the next King of Israel.” In fact, the young man who would be anointed the next king was in the fields tending to his father’s sheep. God had to remind Samuel (yes, even the prophet) not to get caught up in the external trappings of leadership, but to seek a person after His own heart. How fitting God chose David because just as our Heavenly Father is the good shepherd watching over us, He looked for someone who was a good shepherd to his flock in the natural. As leaders, we should never shun small beginnings because God is watching to see if we are faithful over the few before we become ruler over the many!
Then, there was a personal lid in the person of Saul. Saul was not walking obediently as a king and so God removed His hand from Saul and found another man. Saul was so jealous of David and the anointing that rested upon his life that he attempted to kill David on several occasions. Yet in spite of opposition, David remembered the covenant he made with Jonathan (Saul’s son) and did not cause any physical harm to Saul (even when he had the opportunity). A good leader is consistent in their actions even when others around them are coming against them at full force. A real leader is born when in the face of opposition that person continues to portray the character of God.
The final lid David had to overcome was youthfulness and inexperience. When David was anointed as king as a youth, he possessed no experience in leading anyone but sheep (Maxwell 8). Also, when Goliath made challenges against the army of Israel, it was David (not experienced soldiers nor King Saul) who took the challenge against the Philistine. David had no military experience (which was frowned upon by others) yet David overcame the lid of inexperience by utilizing the tools he did possess. David knew that when his flock had been under the attack of a lion or bear he slew the animals to “protect his investment” (1 Samuel 17:34-36). David was also protecting the spiritual investment God had made in Israel that they would triumph over their enemies, so he stood in the confidence of God and was victorious over Goliath (1 Samuel 17: 50-51).
The question each leader needs to ask themselves is,” What are the personal lids I have within my life that are hindering my growth in God.” The enemy would love nothing more than for the people of God to remain contained and bound by oppressive thoughts and experiencing depressive symptoms. David is an encouragement for each of us as God’s generals (leaders) that when you place your security in God, not on personal abilities or inabilities, God will do the rest. Stand still and let the Lord fight your battles!
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