Following bad leaders!
God doesn’t need our help dealing with His leaders.
May 19
But then David’s conscience began bothering him because he had cut Saul’s robe.
1 Samuel 24:5
Share this Devotional
Following bad leaders!
King Saul is pursuing David in hopes of killing him and eliminating him as a threat to ‘his’ kingdom. He pauses to relieve himself in a cave which just happens to be occupied by David and his men. David is encouraged by his men to kill Saul. Instead, he sneaks up and cuts off a part of his robe. As soon as he does, his conscience starts to bother him. He knows that he shouldn’t have done it and recognizes that it was not pleasing to the LORD.
We might look at a story like this and wonder what the big deal is. Why would God be upset with David for simply cutting his robe? A study of David can teach us a lot about how God wants us to relate to our leaders. David looked at King Saul as his leader; placed in the position of leadership by God Himself. David trusted God to deal with Saul when He was ready to and in the way that He wanted.
David did not feel free to do or say anything he wanted to as far as King Saul was concerned. Even though Saul was seeking his life and slandering him, David refused to speak against or attempt to harm Saul. The leaders in our life should be respected even when they are not worthy of respect. The Bible teaches that those leaders were placed there by God Himself. To speak against them is to question God’s wisdom. To attempt to harm them is to fight against God.
We live in a country that promotes the exercise of ‘free speech’. This means that no one can prevent us from speaking as our heart leads us to speak. For Christians, that should mean that we are free to speak about our faith without fear of repercussion. It should also mean that we speak with a fear of God that causes us to respect the leaders that He has allowed to lead us.
Because of Saul’s sin, David had to flee and hide. There might come a time in your life where God calls you to depart from where you are because a leader’s actions are harmful to you or to others. Until then, you are called by God to support your leaders to the best of your ability. This is true in your family, ministry, church, work, and country.
Attacking the leaders that God has placed in their positions above you is against God and will result in God’s hand of judgment in your own life. God doesn’t need our help dealing with His leaders. God wants followers that will do everything in their ability to bring a godly influence into even the most wicked of environments.
There are no perfect leaders and once we get into the habit of attacking our leaders because of their weaknesses, it is very difficult to stop. We start looking for weakness, instead of looking for their strengths and looking for ways to cover over their weaknesses. To the best of your ability pray for your leaders, encourage them, and look for ways to help them. Then trust them to God for everything else. Jesus, teach us to look up to our leaders, rather than down upon them.
Daily Bible Reading Plan:
Click the button below to have these devotionals sent directly to your inbox as they are published.