Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Day 154 Some lessons in leadership from 2 Samuel

When others are too powerful for us....
2 Sam 2:38 Then the king said to his men, "Don't you realize that a great commander has fallen in Israel this day? 39 And today, though I am the anointed king, I am weak, and these sons of Zeruiah are too strong for me. May the LORD repay the evildoer according to his evil deeds!"

I remember the first time these words sank into my life. It was a heart wrenching time when I had to acknowledge that there are people and situations that are too powerful for me to handle, and that it's ok, but only when we have placed the people and situations in God hands for resolution. We don't need to follow and try to appease the stronger, just release them into God's care and protection. What He chooses to do and how he does it, is his domain.

When we lose our heads in a situation, or believe a lie...it could cost us our heads in reality..
2 Sam 4:1" When Ish-Bosheth son of Saul heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost courage, and all Israel became alarmed". He was then stabbed to death in bed by his two raiding party leaders and they brought his head to David. The two leaders, seized an opportunity to gain advancement in David's camp because they assumed that David agreed with Abners death. If they and Ish-Bosheth didn't lose their head figuratively speaking, they wouldn't have really lost his head. David then put them straight and takes their heads. That's a high price to pay for assumption!

Committment to our committments make the difference...
David's ruthlessly kept to his committment to Saul and Jonathon and in the long run, this united his reigh the Israel and Judah. 2 Sam 5:1-5

Siobhan

3 comments:

  1. I have also learned recently that we do not need to confront every sin in someone else's life. Many things are between a person and his or her maker.

    Shirley Fay

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  2. That is wise...meddling in another's business is like pulling a wild dogs tail.. But then we are told in Galatians 6:1 that we are to "restore him gently".. Either way the wisdom is in knowing when to confront or leave it alone. If its "out there" ie they are caught in a sin, maybe it's a teachable moment, If not for the one caught but for the simple minded who hadn't thought of the consequences of an action and is willing to learn from anothers mistakes in life. Though I agree, we are not to confront but rather spur one another to love and good works. Overcoming evil with good. Thanks Shirley, Its good to think over these issues.

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  3. I agree. We are taught by scripture to confront sin. But I think there are times when we may need to leave things alone. Such cases may be: 1) when things are not clear 2) when we do not have a relationship with someone 3)When we have said all there is to say 4)When we suspect, but do not know and the person has not invited us to a relationship on that level

    Shirley

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