Ways to Lead
Opening Prayer
Ask God to help you increase in your faithfulness as both a leader and a follower.
Read 1 Samuel 22:1-23
[1] David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. [2] All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their commander. About four hundred men were with him. [3] From there David went to Mizpah in Moab and said to the king of Moab, “Would you let my father and mother come and stay with you until I learn what God will do for me?” [4] So he left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him as long as David was in the stronghold. [5] But the prophet Gad said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold. Go into the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hereth. [6] Now Saul heard that David and his men had been discovered. And Saul was seated, spear in hand, under the tamarisk tree on the hill at Gibeah, with all his officials standing at his side. [7] He said to them, “Listen, men of Benjamin! Will the son of Jesse give all of you fields and vineyards? Will he make all of you commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds? [8] Is that why you have all conspired against me? No one tells me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse. None of you is concerned about me or tells me that my son has incited my servant to lie in wait for me, as he does today.” [9] But Doeg the Edomite, who was standing with Saul’s officials, said, “I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelek son of Ahitub at Nob. [10] Ahimelek inquired of the LORD for him; he also gave him provisions and the sword of Goliath the Philistine.” [11] Then the king sent for the priest Ahimelek son of Ahitub and all the men of his family, who were the priests at Nob, and they all came to the king. [12] Saul said, “Listen now, son of Ahitub.” “Yes, my lord,” he answered. [13] Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, giving him bread and a sword and inquiring of God for him, so that he has rebelled against me and lies in wait for me, as he does today?” [14] Ahimelek answered the king, “Who of all your servants is as loyal as David, the king’s son-in-law, captain of your bodyguard and highly respected in your household? [15] Was that day the first time I inquired of God for him? Of course not! Let not the king accuse your servant or any of his father’s family, for your servant knows nothing at all about this whole affair.” [16] But the king said, “You will surely die, Ahimelek, you and your whole family.” [17] Then the king ordered the guards at his side: “Turn and kill the priests of the LORD, because they too have sided with David. They knew he was fleeing, yet they did not tell me.” But the king’s officials were unwilling to raise a hand to strike the priests of the LORD. [18] The king then ordered Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests.” So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck them down. That day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod. [19] He also put to the sword Nob, the town of the priests, with its men and women, its children and infants, and its cattle, donkeys and sheep. [20] But one son of Ahimelek son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled to join David. [21] He told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD. [22] Then David said to Abiathar, “That day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, I knew he would be sure to tell Saul. I am responsible for the death of your whole family. [23] Stay with me; don’t be afraid. The man who wants to kill you is trying to kill me too. You will be safe with me.” Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What are the perils facing David?David remains on the run, now heading for a cave and becoming a magnet for thieves, outcasts, and debtors who have given up on King Saul’s leadership (2). Yet he has managed to lead and mold these men into a strong fighting band, making sure at the same time that his family is safe in Moab (4). Later, after the destruction of the town of Nob, David humbly accepts responsibility for the deaths of its priests and people at the hands of a deranged Saul and his spy Doeg (22). Meanwhile, note the hectoring, violent, and manipulative leadership of Saul. He uses tribal divisions to try to mobilize his army (7). He insists on the murder of priests even though his officials balk at carrying out this evil order (17). Many of our church leaders are like David: they manage people from a range of backgrounds, they listen to God, and they are humble in accepting their failings. But some leaders are more like Saul. They can be dictatorial, refusing to listen to others and fearing conspiracies against them. It is important for us to pray that God will make our leaders both strong and humble.
Apply
Is your leadership more like Saul’s or David’s? How can you encourage wisdom in other leaders?
Closing prayer
Help me to be a consistent advocate for servant leadership, as Your Son taught us, Almighty Lord.
Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.
© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.
Discovery is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.