Welcome to the final week of walking through 1 Samuel. We witnessed the rise of Samuel, then Saul, and now we are reading about the trials of David as he prepares to be the next king of Israel. Today we see David in a place he hasn’t been before. How did he get there, and how will he respond?
Start by reading 1 Samuel 30 for yourself, take notes, and compare what you see and hear from God with what I see and hear. The Bible is alive and active. You and I may not see the same things. And if you’ve missed any of the past posts of earlier chapters, you can find them all HERE.
Let’s dive into 1 Samuel 30!
Crisis Mode Leadership
Over the years I’ve read this passage dozens of times, and I’ve often wondered why were David’s men ready to turn on him? What was the logic behind their anger, besides just irrational rage?
Then I considered this. These men have hid in caves, been chased over the countryside by Saul, fled into enemy territory, nearly fought for those enemies and now their families have been taken captive! Each of those and more because of the choices and decisions made by their leader, David.
As a leader, our choices don’t live in a vacuum. They effect and influence those who are following us.
It’s easy to think, “These men made the choice to follow David. They knew what they were getting into.” While technically, true, they also made their choice believing David would care for them and their families. In this moment they felt let down by the one they entrusted their lives to.
Whether intentional or not, you will make bad decisions as a leader. You’ll hurt people. You’ll lead people into pain and heartache. While this is never ideal or preferable, it is also an opportunity to show the true kind of leader you are.
Notice David’s response to this crisis.
- David seeks God and finds strength in Him.
- David asks God for wisdom and direction.
- David takes decisive action, knowing the plan.
- David has empathy for his followers.
David recognizes the pain his followers are in, so he doesn’t punish them for not being able to push through their fatigue and sorrow.
You could argue, David proves who he really is as a leader in this moment of crisis beyond anything else he had done up to this point. You are a leader too. Your response to the pain and suffering of those who count on you because of your choices will define your leadership.
Don’t be afraid of making mistakes, but don’t be afraid of fixing them either.
Leave a Reply