Wednesday, October 7, 2015

I Samuel 30: Principles Of Leadership

David does two important things in I Samuel 30 that demonstrate his leadership skill.

First, David did not allow defeat to demoralize him.

When David and his troops get back to their home city of Ziklag, they discover that it has been burned to the ground and that all of their family members and possessions have been carted away by marauding Amalekites.  Even David's two wives have been taken.  Verse 6 explains the peril of that moment: "David was in great danger; for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in spirit for their sons and daughters.  But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God."  When the going got tough, David got going - he sought the guidance of the Lord and refused to be crushed by his losses.  Had he given up here, truly all would have been lost for good.  But David instead found the strength to make an attempt to recover what had been taken.

Second, David is magnanimous in victory.

After overtaking the Amalekites, David's forces recapture the people and plunder that had been stolen from them.  In fact, they even gained more by acquiring spoil that had been taken from other cities in addition to their own.  David made some interesting choices regarding this newfound wealth.  He decided to share it not only with the 400 troops who had raided the Amalekites with him, but also with the 200 other men who had only made it as far as the Wadi Besor before stopping in exhaustion.  While some of David's fighters wanted to give those 200 only their wives and children back, David insisted that even those who had stayed with the baggage should receive a share of the spoil.  Even more, David decided to present gifts from the take to the elders among the territory of Judah where he had spent time hiding.  In doing so, he was able to reward his friends and instill even greater loyalty among his countrymen (and future subjects!)

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