Today brings one observation from 2 Samuel:
The Best Kind of Leader
The hero of 2 Samuel is David. The same David who defeated Goliath with a sling and a stone. The same David who was tempted by Bathsheba and ended up killing her husband. Neither of those stories, though, are what caught my eye about David while I was reading 2 Samuel.
What caught my attention was David's leadership style - David wasn't a domineering authoritarian. He was the kind of leader that listened to his advisors and, most importantly, listened to God. Early in the book, David was often fighting wars. Multiple times in the narrative, you see David stopping to ask God, "Lord, what should I do? Should I go out to battle or wait?" He then based his decisions on God's response.
It wasn't just God that David consulted for advice, though. As I hinted above, he also allowed his trusted subordinates and advisors to give him good advice. Later in the narrative, David is forced into hiding by Absalom, who wants to kill him. When the time comes for the battle between David's troops and Absalom's troops, David is prepared to go out and fight alongside his men. But before he goes out, one of his generals comes to him and says, "No, you need to stay here. If we lose, so be it - but if Absalom should get lucky and kill you out there, Israel is done for." Once again, David listens to the wise counsel.
Could it be that this is the key to great leadership? Could it be that the best leaders are not the kind of leaders that dictate what will be and who will countenance no disagreement or even discussion, but rather the kind of leaders that recognize their shortcomings and allow others to help advise and guide them? Perhaps. History certainly seems to indicate so...as does the story of David in 2 Samuel.
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