If you've never read the history of Israel as told in the books of Samuel I highly encourage you do so. The pages are filled with passion, deceit, love, hate, great battles, and so much more which I'm sure you would enjoy. Woven into and around each of the intricate stories as well as the story as a whole is how God has worked in and for the the nation and people of Israel. Today's passage from 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10 is no exception.
David has become king of Hebron and ruled over the city of Judah. At the time there was a civil war between the north and south of Israel and many battles between Saul (who ruled in the south) and David (who fought for the north) are recorded in Samuel. By the time we get to today's passage Saul has died, his son had become king and was murdered, and the elders of Israel come to David to pledge their allegiance. Seriously, great stories.
Alas, we must take today's reading as a stand alone passage, trying our best to exclude the rest of the story, which is often difficult to do. Nonetheless let us try.
Connecting today's passage to yesterday's Psalm, however, should be allowed; don't you think. Yesterday's Psalm had kings approaching the great city on the hill and trembling in awe of the great power in the presence of God. Today we read about the elders of Israel approaching David to make a covenant in the presence of God. In both passages God is present, in both passages leaders are humbled, and in both passages we get a sense of how great leaders are made.
I read a commentary on this passage which gave 3 things a good leader should have;
1 - The ability to listen, not only to the voices of those she/he is leading but also to the voice of God
2 - The ability to be humble and not think one's self better or less than those around him/her
3 - The recognition that it's God's call we follow in becoming a leader and therefore should do our best to lead in the way God intends.
Pretty cool list, I wish more of our world leaders would follow it.
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