There is a plethora of books, archived magazine articles, along with online sound bites on social media on how to be a great leader. Most are written and published by great leaders who have been given a platform after their successes to tell us how they got there only after proving themselves to be great by the world around them. Yes, that was along sentence. Seriously, though, isn’t that what we look for first in a leader—a person who has already succeeded?
Who isn’t curious to know how they did what you are trying to do now as a leader? I confess; I was and I still am a questioner. I question, not to criticize, but to relentlessly glean from those I trust. In my interviewing, I am seeking to learn. My questions are intended to go beyond what we see on the surface of a leader’s persona of success to discover their deeper motives, true feelings, asking about their past history that brought them to where they are now as revered, trustworthy leaders who others listen to and follow.
David is one of those leaders who I would have loved to sit down and interview. Wouldn’t you? The chronicles of his life show why God chose him to be the next king. God knew the boy, David, sent by his father to do the lowliest job of all in the family—tend the sheep. He was the youngest male, not worthy of much else, until God decided otherwise. God saw and knew his heart. As David cared for the sheep; he would sing songs of praise to His Shepherd who watched over him with power and might.
Though chosen, anointed, and set apart from among David’s older brothers to be king; the pathway to the throne would not be easy. Over the years, of gathering knowledge from leaders in various parts of the world, leaders who were considered trusted and revered, one characteristic stood out—they walked humbly with God. But they became humbled by God through past difficulties in their lives. Those humbled by past sufferings learned to fully rely on God to walk with them through the challenging times. It was those humbly experiences that drew them closer to God. They become more and more equipped by God as men and women who served rather than seeking to be served. They had a heightened awareness of others’ needs with empathy and compassion.
Godly leaders successfully recognize and realize more quickly than others the plight and needs of others and come to their aid with real help because they, too have suffered and know where their help came from—God! They also know what anxious fear feels like and can share from the heart the One and Only who can relieve fear and anxious thoughts!
To walk humbly with God is what the prophet Micah says God requires of all of us. Suffering leads us to walk humbly with God. Perseverance through suffering leads us to strong, relentless faith in God. (James 1) The resulting outcome: Godly leaders trust and obey God with all that is within them without thinking how it will benefit them but as the way to love God back for all He has done for them (and us). The person who seeks justice for others in God’s view of life, who loves His mercy and is merciful to others seem to be prerequisites for walking humbly with God. (Micah 6:8)
God notices humility and opposes the proud. God sees the heart of those who are undivided in loyalty and of one mind, committed fully to Him and supports them. (2 Chronicles 16:9)
People notice the one who pursues God and are attracted to leaders who know God and follow what He says. Most people are distracted to arrogant, know-it-alls, who live only for themselves and demand self-glorification. (James 4:6)
1 Chronicles 12
Warriors Join David
These were the men who came to David at Ziklag, while he was banished from the presence of Saul son of Kish (they were among the warriors who helped him in battle; 2 they were armed with bows and were able to shoot arrows or to sling stones right-handed or left-handed; they were relatives of Saul from the tribe of Benjamin):
3 Ahiezer their chief and Joash the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; Jeziel and Pelet the sons of Azmaveth; Berakah, Jehu the Anathothite, 4 and Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty warrior among the Thirty, who was a leader of the Thirty; Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad the Gederathite, 5 Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah and Shephatiah the Haruphite; 6 Elkanah, Ishiah, Azarel, Joezer and Jashobeam the Korahites; 7 and Joelah and Zebadiah the sons of Jeroham from Gedor.
8 Some Gadites defected to David at his stronghold in the wilderness. They were brave warriors, ready for battle and able to handle the shield and spear. Their faces were the faces of lions, and they were as swift as gazelles in the mountains.
9 Ezer was the chief, Obadiah the second in command, Eliab the third, 10 Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth, 11 Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh, 12 Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth, 13 Jeremiah the tenth and Makbannai the eleventh.
14 These Gadites were army commanders; the least was a match for a hundred, and the greatest for a thousand. 15 It was they who crossed the Jordan in the first month when it was overflowing all its banks, and they put to flight everyone living in the valleys, to the east and to the west.
16 Other Benjamites and some men from Judah also came to David in his stronghold. 17 David went out to meet them and said to them, “If you have come to me in peace to help me, I am ready for you to join me. But if you have come to betray me to my enemies when my hands are free from violence, may the God of our ancestors see it and judge you.”
18 Then the Spirit came on Amasai, chief of the Thirty, and he said:
“We are yours, David! We are with you, son of Jesse!
Success, success to you, and success to those who help you, for your God will help you.”
So David received them and made them leaders of his raiding bands.
19 Some of the tribe of Manasseh defected to David when he went with the Philistines to fight against Saul. (He and his men did not help the Philistines because, after consultation, their rulers sent him away. They said, “It will cost us our heads if he deserts to his master Saul.”) 20 When David went to Ziklag, these were the men of Manasseh who defected to him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu and Zillethai, leaders of units of a thousand in Manasseh. 21 They helped David against raiding bands, for all of them were brave warriors, and they were commanders in his army. 22 Day after day men came to help David, until he had a great army, like the army of God.
Others Join David at Hebron
23 These are the numbers of the men armed for battle who came to David at Hebron to turn Saul’s kingdom over to him, as the Lord had said:
24 from Judah, carrying shield and spear—6,800 armed for battle;
25 from Simeon, warriors ready for battle—7,100;
26 from Levi—4,600, 27 including Jehoiada, leader of the family of Aaron, with 3,700 men, 28 and Zadok, a brave young warrior, with 22 officers from his family;
29 from Benjamin, Saul’s tribe—3,000, most of whom had remained loyal to Saul’s house until then;
30 from Ephraim, brave warriors, famous in their own clans—20,800;
31 from half the tribe of Manasseh, designated by name to come and make David king—18,000;
32 from Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do—200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command;
33 from Zebulun, experienced soldiers prepared for battle with every type of weapon, to help David with undivided loyalty—50,000;
34 from Naphtali—1,000 officers, together with 37,000 men carrying shields and spears;
35 from Dan, ready for battle—28,600;
36 from Asher, experienced soldiers prepared for battle—40,000;
37 and from east of the Jordan, from Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh, armed with every type of weapon—120,000.
38 All these were fighting men who volunteered to serve in the ranks. They came to Hebron fully determined to make David king over all Israel. All the rest of the Israelites were also of one mind to make David king. 39 The men spent three days there with David, eating and drinking, for their families had supplied provisions for them. 40 Also, their neighbors from as far away as Issachar, Zebulun and Naphtali came bringing food on donkeys, camels, mules and oxen. There were plentiful supplies of flour, fig cakes, raisin cakes, wine, olive oil, cattle and sheep, for there was joy in Israel.
WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?
The Holy Spirit of God makes all the difference!
One of the distinct differences between God’s dealings with people during Old Testament times and New Testament times has to do with the work of the Holy Spirit. In this passage of David’s life as a new leader; we read how God’s Spirit coming on Amasai to bless David and declare the allegiance of the thirty elite warriors. God moved in the lives of particular people to carry out detailed, specific actions knowing David would trust and obey Him!
We can rely on God’s Holy Spirit to make a difference always!
As believers in Jesus; we can expect and rely on God’s Holy Spirit’s presence at the exact point of saying yes to Jesus! (1 Corinthians 12–14). Today, God’s Spirit continues His intimate work in us, enabling all by His power working in us to live abundantly and free as redeemed people (Romans 8:2) as we spread the gospel (Acts 1:8) of Jesus Christ!
God guides; God provides. God gives exactly what we need when we need it most. God did it for David and He still does it for us! Trust and obey for there’s no other way—to walk humbly with our God.
Lord,
Thank you for the chronicled facts of the lives you led to accomplish your will and purposes then—leading to the coming of our King Jesus! There is no one like our God! You are Sovereign. You are Savior, Protector, Provider, Healer, Counselor and You are the peace we seek and the love we cherish. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
To you be the glory, honor, and praise forevermore!
In Jesus Name, Amen
Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus) 