The Situation:
1st Samuel 30 talks about how the Amelekites, in the absence of David and his men, raided David’s cities (Negev and Ziklag), burnt Ziklag and “had taken captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great” (1 Sam 30:2).
Needless to say, David and his men were greatly distressed. Scripture says that they “raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep”. I tried to put myself in their shoes, tried to imagine how they would have felt. Pain of losing family & home, worry about how their families were faring – were they even alive, guilt for not being able to protect them and overwhelming sense of helplessness – what if their families were being abused, tortured or even killed at that very moment, anger/rage towards the enemy. They even spoke of stoning David as they were bitter in soul.
David’s Response
David and his men raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep (1 Sam 30:2) – A successful leader is secure in his identity. He is genuine and transparent. He does not feel the “need” or “pressure” to maintain a false self-image. He can be himself.
Amongst all this chaos “David strengthened himself in the Lord his God” (1 Sam 30:2). – A successful leader is able to see past the emotional fog and focus on God.
“And David enquired of the Lord” (1 Sam 30:8) – A successful leader seeks God for advice
“So David set out” (1 Sam 30:9) – As soon as he got the positive confirmation from God, he sprang into action which brings us to our 4th lesson - A successful leader mobilizes himself and his people as per God’s direction
When they reached the enemy camp, scripture says that “David struck them down from twilight until the evening of the next day” (1 Sam 30:6) – A successful leader leads from the front. He is brave, bold and decisive. One of the biggest leadership qualities in David, for which he was greatly loved and admired by his men was that David was a frontline warrior himself. He liked to get his hands dirty. He did not just delegate and watch from far away but fought alongside his men.
David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken! What a great testimony! “Nothing was missing, whether small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything that had been taken. David brought back all.” (1 Sam 30:20)
And when they had won the battle some of the men who fought alongside David did not want to share the spoils with the 200 men who were too exhausted to fight. David decreed “For as his share is, who goes down into the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage” (1 Sam 30:24) – A successful leader thinks of the team. David knew that victory came through God’s grace and not because of sheer muscle strength. Just as God has shown grace to them by restoring all that was lost,
by sharing the spoils his men that could not fight in the battle.
Do you see any of these points as an area you need to work on? I have purposely skipped a couple of more leadership lessons from this chapter. Would encourage you to go back and read 1 Sam 30. Do comment below if you find them. Would love to hear from you!
Blessing
Mridula