Godly Leadership
1 Samuel 30:1-31
Turn to 1 Samuel 30. One of the greatest tragedies in our time is the corruption of many who are well-known leaders, whether they are well-known in politics, sports, entertainment, religious world. And if we could ask the Lord for one thing in our culture, likely near the top would be good, honest leadership from those we may look up to. I have mentioned before that one thing that I miss, something that is almost absent anymore is someone with influence making a strong statement about God or expressing the necessity to lean upon God for His blessing and guidance. As many of the presidential speeches in the past have always included such a faith in God and Christianity and some of the speeches of the queen have been more like sermons than merely words. So, we miss that, but what goes beyond that is the actual character of the leader, where a world leader has used many strong spiritual, God-honouring words, only to find out later that their character did not match their words.
And we see this with many in the sports world or entertainment world, where someone comes to the forefront and they have a Christian witness, but then we hear of something in their lives that is so disappointing. So, we do tend anymore to become skeptical or at the least we tend to not get too excited about someone’s words or stand. And unfortunately, this has rocked the Christian world as well, not just celebrities or leaders that claim to be Christians, but preachers and well-known speakers who have disappointed, so that we have almost become conditioned or calloused when we see leaders fail.
In evangelical circles back twenty-thirty years ago it was many who were part of the charismatic movement that fell, only to see them back on their feet again in ministry shortly after. But it has now hit closer to home for us in our circles, and the result is that it places doubts in the minds of the world as they look at Christianity, but it also places doubts in the minds of Christians themselves. So, we come to assume that good churches; good pastors; good, sound Christian school leaders will all face their share of scandal and hypocrisy. And the scandal usually involves some kind of abuse in the areas of power, money, or sex, and often it involves the leadership.
When I think of leadership within good churches that I am aware of, I can think of a man who led youth ministry who fell, a man who was an associate pastor who fell, a semi-retired senior’s pastor who fell, and it is also has occurred in the failing of leadership in Christian universities. And I think that one, we need to acknowledge that the culture has had its influence. In other words, the damage done by our culture will have its effect within Christian circles. So, that even amongst leadership there is a waffling of good, sound, biblical teaching. So that overtime churches and Christian schools look more like the culture and less like the biblical example. I was once told that if you are looking for a good church or Christian school, do not look so much at their doctrinal statement, but look to what they teach and practise, as many good statements are still part of churches and schools. Yet those same beliefs are not reinforced and upheld any longer in the teaching or the practical application of the ministry. So, this we understand, and we live with a somewhat lower expectation.
In mentioning this, we as elders have been working hard in reviewing and revising our doctrinal statement, What We Believe. And we do not want this to be a statement that sits alone, but is something that we know and believe. So, beginning later in September, I will be preaching our What We Believe statements throughout the fall, as it addresses some of the core doctrines in the Bile, as well as it speaks toward current issues such as of marriage, the sanctity of life, and the Christian life. As these truths need to be well-taught, so that they are very clear and well-defined, because our culture does have an influence. But there is another problem, and that is not only that our culture has an influence, but it is also the problem of hypocrisy. This is not the difficulty of a ministry becoming less biblical over time in what they claim to believe, but it is the ministry that upholds good, sound doctrine, and yet within that ministry, there is underlying sin, and it rears its ugly head in leadership.
When Israel first wanted a king, the Lord warned them that a king may use his power to oppress. In other words, he would tend to take and use. And this is what can happen within ministries today, where leaders get greedy, or they can still be looked up to as godly leaders while at the same time be covering up sin. And often the more power, the more temptation. So, when you are a king, you have been handed a considerable amount of power, and there are many pleasures available to you, and some kings may avail themselves to those pleasures either publicly or in secret. We have all heard the phrase, power corrupts. We can certainly look at the life of Saul and think that he seemed to start out so well, until he became unprincipled.
And so now the people themselves after seeing what power did to Saul, may look at David with sort of a cynical outlook. In other words, what will happen to David when he has the power. I guess, time will tell. Now, we do know of the problems that David will someday face, as we know the rest of the story, and we are already aware of some of the weaknesses of David, after all, no godly leader is perfect. But the people could be comforted to know that David was the man of God’s choosing all along. When I was thinking of this, I did smile that when we have an election, and we discuss the reason this guy should get in power or the reason this guy should not. But what if we were given God’s nomination? Can you imagine the high expectation we would have! This prime minister is the guy that the Lord has chosen to hold office. Yet also understanding that any king, political leader, Christian school president, pastor-elder is only human, and will all come with their weaknesses. And yet this also reminds us of the perfect leader, Jesus Christ, who was the only one whom the Lord Himself said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”
So, we have had the statement from Samuel that Saul would die along with his sons in battle (chapter 28) and it will happen (chapter 31), and that David would soon be the new leader and king in Israel. And our chapter this morning is going to give us an insight generally to the kind of leadership that Israel would receive from David. So, look with me at 1 Samuel 30, remembering that David had fled to the land of the Philistines to get free from Saul. And then he was told to leave the battle against Israel by the Philistines, where he and his men make the long journey back home only to face another enemy.
“Then it happened when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had made a raid on the Negev and on Ziklag and had struck Ziklag and burned it with fire; and they took captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great—they did not put anyone to death—and carried them off and went their way. Then David and his men came to the city, and behold, it was burned with fire, and their wives and their sons and their daughters had been taken captive. So David and the people who were with him lifted their voices and wept until there was no strength in them to weep. Now David’s two wives had been taken captive, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite.6 Moreover David was greatly distressed because the people said to stone him, for all the people were embittered, each one because of his sons and his daughters.”
1 Samuel 30:1-6a (LSB)
- The Leader’s Sudden Problem
There are not too many leadership roles that are problem-free. I suppose there are leaders who really enjoy having problems to overcome, but not many of us wake up in the morning and pray, Lord, bring me some problems today so that I can bear down and triumph over them! Yet, problems and trials are certainly an odd thing, as they often do strengthen us. Much of the growth in our lives, as we look back, and see how we came through a problem or disappointment really helped develop us. Many sports teams who have won championships look back to the years prior to getting beat out as motivation to be able to over come. Any job that is successful usually starts out with discomfort and challenges.
Certainly, major challenges can bring people together. I am sure that in wartime, many soldiers can think back to times when they thought defeat was imminent, but they overcame. The strengthening of families who have come through a death. The rebuilding of a home that was destroyed in a fire. The reunion of a parent and child who reconcile differences. These are all great moments in life that were caused by some sort of crisis. Anytime you have started a new job or position, you just realize that there will be a timeframe where it will be uncomfortable.
So, understand David’s situation. I am not sure what he had related to his men about his intention with being part of the Philistine army—if he was planning all along to attack the Philistines from the rear—though that would not be something that he would likely confide with everyone. Therefore, a good number of these men would likely have to basically trust David and what he was doing. I mean, there could have already been some rumblings in the camp of, why are we joining the Philistines? And then of course, as a leader, he must acknowledge the change of plans because of the commanders of the Philistines saying “no” to going into battle, and then try to explain this to the men, only to find out that when they get home to their camp, disaster, as their wives, families, and possessions gone.
And who is to blame? Who was the one who suggested leaving their camp and joining the Philistine army anyway? David. And it would be one thing for David’s men to come around him and give support of what to do next, but what do they do? They become embittered and decide to stone him. So, now it is desperation time, all is lost, and the first thought of these men is let’s hang the leader. Talk about being seconded guessed. I mean, coming into the land of the Philistines and leaving your families back at their homes, either preparing to fight Israel or pretending to fight Israel. Who thought of that hair-brained scheme?
I don’t know if you have ever had a great idea, that was a bad idea that all went wrong. I could not think of an example, as I have never had a bad idea, joking! I do think back to the days when we used to camp a lot, as it would not be uncommon for us to camp at the Pinery for two to three weeks in the summer. Now I would not say this was a far-fetched idea, as Anne grew up camping as well. Now when I say camping, we are not rustic campers. I mean we camp most often at the Pinery, where you can go into Grand Bend for a burger once every few days, and there’s showers, hot water, flush toilets. Not like the way some of you camp.
But I do remember one year we were booked in for a week in July, and it was one of those weeks that the entire forecast was rain. Now if you know me, there is no such thing as a week’s forecast of rain, as I am always going to look on the positive side, even if I am proven dead wrong. And it did rain, as we played games in the kitchen tent all day. It literally was always raining. And after about three straight days of rain, we played Frisbee and baseball in the rain. I mean, we just decided that we were going to be outside. We still smile, as the only time we saw the sun was for about ten minutes at the beach in Grand Bend, and I was able to say to the boys, see, I told you it would not rain all week. But there is the joy in the conquering, I mean, we did it! Because when you get back home, people would ask, did you camp all week in that rain? Oh yah! Though there are likely those who would look at my leadership and say, man, I am glad he is not leading our family!
And here is David, who has been able to allude Saul for a number of years with his men. Who was also able to come right into the Philistine camp unscathed, only to come home and find the Amalekites have wiped them out, with likely no hope of ever seeing their families again. So, what does David do?
- The Leader’s Safe Refuge
“But David strengthened himself in Yahweh his God. Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, ‘Please bring the ephod near to me.’ So Abiathar brought the ephod near to David. And David asked of Yahweh, saying, ‘Shall I pursue this band? Shall I overtake them?’ And He said to him, ‘Pursue, for you will surely overtake them, and you will surely deliver all.’ So David went, he and the six hundred men who were with him, and they came to the brook Besor, where those left behind remained. But David pursued, he and four hundred men, for two hundred who were too exhausted to cross the brook Besor remained behind.”
1 Samuel 30:6b-10 (LSB)
If we ever find the gold nugget in David’s life that enables to overcome his human weaknesses, it is found in the latter half of verse six. “But David strengthened himself in Yahweh his God.” We get such a contrast here between David and Saul, as remember in 1 Samuel 28 that Saul was afraid and he called upon the Lord, and the Lord did not answer him; and yet here in David’s distress, he calls on the Lord and the Lord does answer—calling and answering—as there is nothing that can help leaders lead than to have this kind of communion with God. Andrew Murray who is well-known for his insight into prayer wrote this:
“I want to worship God until my whole heart is filled with the thought of His omnipotence. God is almighty, and the Almighty God offers Himself to work in my heart, to do the work of keeping me; and I want to get linked with Omnipotence, or rather linked to the Omnipotent One, to the living God, and to have my place in the hollow of His hands.”
Andrw Murray, Humility and Absolute Surrender 139
There is likely nothing more than we could ever leave our children than an example of a life completely dependent upon God. The utter foolishness of parents leaving a wealth of money for their children, but failing to leave them a storehouse of spiritual riches, as what profit is money in the ages to come? And I am speaking here to Mom and Dad’s, aunts, uncles, and to you young people, what kind of life do we really have if it is not a life in tune with the living God? For we are dependant upon God for our every breathe in this life and in the next. For we are in no less danger of losing our lives today, than David was when his men wanted to kill him, as it is the Lord who is completely sovereign over our lives every moment. David strengthened himself in Yahweh his God and the Leader’s Refuge.
- The Leader’s Uniting Love
If you have read this story this week, you know that David, after hearing from God is somehow able to quiet down the troops, though we are not told how. And he assembles four hundred of his six hundred men, as two hundred of them were too exhausted to fight after their long trek home. And they go to the Amalekite camp and find them revelling in their victory. And David was able to strike almost all of them, except a few who escaped. And the amazing part of the story is that everything the Amalekites took, including women and children were safe. And then we pick up the story again.
“Then David came to the two hundred men who were too exhausted to follow David, who had also remained at the brook Besor, and they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him, and David approached the people and greeted them. Then all the evil and vile men among those who went with David said, ‘Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have delivered, except to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away and depart.’ Then David said, ‘You must not do so, my brothers, with what Yahweh has given us, who has kept us and given into our hand the band that came against us. And who will listen to you in this matter? For as is the portion of the one who goes down to the battle, so shall the portion be of the one who remains by the baggage; they shall be apportioned together.’”
1 Samuel 30:21-24 (LSB)
David here has a love for all his people, both the strong and the weak. And here the love of David for his people took a situation where they could have been divided. In fact, there could have been great bitterness on both sides, and yet David unites them together. Think of Paul’s message to the Thessalonians.
“And we urge you, brothers, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people.”
1 Thessalonians 5:14-15 (LSB)
The value in leading people and elevating their faith. Leadership that is concerned for the eternal good of others, not just that they survive but that they might thrive in Christ. And when we see the actions of these divisive men, we see that their own personal comforts and wants were placed above that of the group, and therefore, above the unity of the group. But David says (vs 24), “For who will listen to you in this matter?” In other words, you guys are way out in left field. The leader’s uniting love, which leads us to the final point.
- The Leader’s Wise Perspective
“Then David said, ‘You must not do so, my brothers, with what Yahweh has given us, who has kept us and given into our hand the band that came against us.’”
1 Samuel 30:23
As we see the source of these gifts, as David says they are gifts that Yahweh has given us. Even going back, a number of years within our society that has likely never really been a “Christian” culture as we would like to think. But there was a much greater thinking that blessings came from God. Yet this is rarely considered today. People rarely mention the goodness of God in society. People rarely pray before they eat anymore, as people have forgotten the gracious nature of God in everyday life. John Woodhouse wrote, “To forget the grace of God is to forget God.” Peter wrote:
“And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, strengthen, confirm, and ground you.”
1 Peter 5:10 (LSB)
I love what the Apostle Paul told the Corinthians. What do you have that you did not receive? And if you received it, why do you boast, as if you earned it yourself? We spend consider thought and time into making plans and making sure things are safe and cared for. But, in reality, we also need to know, as David knew, that it is God who guards our lives and families. This also reminds us of the parable that Jesus taught of the workers who toiled for the day—some working more hours and some less—yet they all received the same amount of pay. And in this case, David is saying that since these things were received as gifts from God, it is not about fairness in handing them out, as grace is not about fairness. If the gifts of God were about fairness or the salvation of God was about fairness, then none of us would receive anything, for we are all undeserving. Therefore, the leader’s wise perspective especially when considering the grace of God. A real Christian leader cannot think of himself as something special that God has chosen to lead in the various circumstances, he finds himself but understands that he has received this responsibility only by the grace of God, in other words, unearned.
So, I wish to leave you this morning with some encouragement as we lead: whether you are a young Mom at home with those little cherubs; or a Dad trying to lead his family; or someone with a leadership responsibility at work; or someone trying to oversee a ministry at church. As really the role of a Christian leader is that of elevating others in Christ. And I believe that the greatest encouragement we need is during times of struggle. After all, leading is somewhat easy when everything is smooth sailing, but it is when the challenges appear that is the real testing time. When there is a difficult challenge at work or in that ministry. When there are some hurdles in family life, or when those little cherubs are not acting like cherubs. How can we best lead? Look with me (vs 6), “But David strengthened himself in Yahweh his God.” As a leader:
- Admit you need help.
When I was about seventeen, I worked part-time at Dominion Store in Chatham. I was the youngest in our family and my brother and sister were already married, and my Mom and Dad were away for a couple of days. And so, when they left, Mom said, here is some money and you can get yourself a pizza after work Friday night. Now I mean when you are seventeen, pizza is like an act of grace. I got off work at 9pm, the pizza place was in the same plaza, came home and ran into the kitchen, got my glass of the real Coke, and raced downstairs to enjoy my pizza. And as I hit that bottom step, it was splish-splash, for it had rained all the time I was at work, and apparently our sump pump had died.
Now in some ways, I was a leader in that setting, for Mom and Dad were away and I was left in charge. And of course, in those days, I likely had no phone number to get a hold of them. So, what did I do? Well, I did what any Ottaway male does when there is some kind of construction or mechanical problem—he gets help! I went next door and got Mr. McConnell who came over and even had a spare sump pump and he replaced it, and the water soon was gone. We took a carpet outside, and I mopped the rest of the basement. The next day I rolled out the carpet in the sun, and Mom Dad came home later that day and I told them what had happened. Dad was so proud of me. And so too, David needed help. And when the going got tough he went to Mr. McConnell. No, he went to the Lord. For he needed to think straight, he needed hope, he needed to make wise decisions. Therefore, he was quick to go to God.
- Refresh your depleted soul.
I have mentioned to you before the blessing of a pastor in Chatham named Rick Baker. He was a tremendous leader but often would talk about his depleted soul. And I am convinced that great leadership is not about always having it together or being the perfect man for the perfect job. But it is one who realizes his need to be revitalized and refreshed in God. And it says in our passage that David strengthened himself in Yahweh—not something done himself—but that he, himself was strengthened by God. Yes, David was gifted and skilled, but he did not rely on those things to help him in a time of trouble, but he strengthened himself in the Lord. A great quality of a leader is to learn to allow the strength of God’s Spirit, to revive us when we face challenges, admit you need help, refresh your depleted soul.
- Cultivate your relationship with God.
Notice here that David is not just crying out to God or to somebody in the universe. He is not just randomly hoping that the powers would help him out. But John Piper notes that he (vs 6) strengthens himself in Yahweh his God. For this is the invitation in the Scriptures. This is the desire of God that we would come to Him and call out to Him. He wants us to come empty-handed. Isaiah wrote:
“Every one who thirsts, come to the waters;
And you who have no money come, buy and eat.
Come, buy wine and milk
Without money and without cost.
Incline your ear and come to Me.
Listen, that your soul may live.
Isaiah 55:1, 3a (LSB)
It is difficult to lead godly without that strong, deep, personal relationship with Christ. So, cultivate your relationship with God. Finally:
- Rejoice in God’s goodness.
God is good, and we want those who are under our care to know that God is good. That we are not complainers or grumblers, but we are quick to acknowledge and rejoice in the goodness of God in all things. Psalm 34 is believed to have been written during the time when David was in the land of the Philistines. Listen to the kind of words he uses:
“I sought the Lord, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to Him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad.”
Let the humble hear and be glad. Who will they hear from? You and me. Do you want to have this kind of relationship with God? Then be thirsty for God. Be empty in yourself. Be desperate for help! And He will deliver you from all your fears. Let’s pray. Lord, we do not possess the resources to lead well, as we are only fragile, sinful, human beings. Yet You have invited us to lean of You—on Your strength—that we might come and be refreshed as leaders, ambassadors, as proclaimers of our great God. So, instill in us Your Spirit that we might become mighty stewards for Christ. And all God’s people said, amen.