Many people speak of natural leaders being born for the times of their identification, but history shows that leaders are not born as often as created. Even those who are natural born leaders possessing that certain something that causes others to follow are God created. However, not everyone who has ever led an organization, nation, team, or playground qualifies as a good leader. More importantly, for the Christian, not every good leader is a righteous leader capable of leading God's people. A Tale of Three Kings: A Study in Brokenness by Gene Edwards draws on the interaction of King Saul and David, and King David and King Absalom, the son of David who temporarily overthrew his father. This tale intends to ensure that good leaders learn how to become righteous leaders capable of leading the people of God. It is for this reason that each leader is examined against two factors: the greatest secular leadership model in the world, the United States (US) Army's be, know, do, and the manual that holds the answers for all leaders, the Bible. Each king's presentation for examination is in the order of his first or only reign.
King Saul
King Saul is the first king of Israel. Saul, chosen by God to be an instrument of chastisement for Israel's rejection of God's theocratic reign over the nation using judges, is the king of appearance. Samuel prophesied of his reign, in warning to the nation, prior to his selection for coronation. According to scripture, Saul begins his reign in humility, but soon rises in power to accomplish mighty deeds for himself. Saul teaches fledgling leaders what the world says a leader should be, what a leader should know, and what a leader does.
Be
Throughout part one of the narrative drama presented by Gene Edwards, King Saul is what a worldly leader should be. Saul, as known from scripture and as presented, is a powerful leader who on more than once occasion is among the prophets. Saul is a warrior capable of leading an army into battle. He stands taller than anyone does. Saul is the premier leader. Leaders are powerful and display their unbroken power. Saul is authoritative, dealing out rewards and punishments as he determines. Saul is determined to reach the goals he established. Saul is the face of his organization and he does not share his glory with those who serve him. Saul is the epitome of when in charge be in charge. Saul is the leader modeled after the world. He is what a leader of the world receives instruction to become.
Know
The first thing a leader must know is who they are to be, in the eyes of those they lead. Israel stated to Samuel that they wanted a leader just like all the other nations, so God granted them their wish, Saul. Accordingly, Saul looked to other nations and became a great king. From these kingdoms, Saul knew what he should appear to be as king. Saul knew that kings must have the blessings of deity, so he sacrificed and sat among the prophets. Saul knew that potential rising stars in government were a threat to his kingdom. Saul knew that God, due to his overly decisive nature, had determined that another king would arise to take his place. Saul knew that such a threat needs elimination. Saul knew that great kings do not live in the shadows of a servant, even a general of their army. Saul knew that David held God's blessing and that he might be the one prophesied to replace the king. Through knowledge comes action.
Do
Saul was a good leader as the world defines good leaders. His actions accepted as the prerogatives of any king. He held powerful generals who won victories over mighty armies, to include the destruction of Goliath, the Philistine warrior of Gath. Saul had earned the right to take the sons and daughters if Israel as servants. Saul had earned the right to take portions of the fields as tax, and to conscript men into military service. These were the actions of mighty kings. Saul had the right to persecute a general who seemed to be stealing the people away from the king, no matter how loyal the servant remained. Saul was a mighty warrior, so no javelin thrown was to destroy but put the young upstart David in his place. Saul, the mighty warrior king, had the right to be moody and have whomever he wanted, play the harp for him, even a general, like the upstart David. When near the end of his reign it was fitting that Saul, pursue the fleeing traitorous general.
Scriptural Leadership
Saul was a leader of the world but not a godly leader. As Gene Edward begins the story with the possibilities of two destinies, it is easy to see that Saul is the destiny of exterior power. While many of his leadership qualities are admirable qualities of decisiveness, authoritativeness, determination, protectiveness, and knowledge, they remain exterior qualities. This is the point that Edwards determines to make by presenting Saul bearing the exterior power of God and not accepting the power that transform the interior and build the character required to lead the people of God. The interior power denied by Saul is the very power that transformed the shepherd David into the mighty king of Israel.
David
David is the one figure who transcends both parts of the tale. David is the youngest son of Jessie, who tends his father sheep. David is the young one called from the field to appear before the prophet Samuel for anointing as the next king of Israel. David will reveal the interior power of God and the effect it can have on a leader.
Be
David through suffering realizes that as king he is to be a servant to God, and to serve the people of Israel. David understands the humility of the servant from a life of servitude as a shepherd, a musician in the royal courts, and as a military leader under the authority of a crazed king. David demonstrates differing aspects of leadership from Saul. David demonstrates self-control, compassion, loyalty, repentance, and a desire for God. Therefore, David teaches Christian that a leader is to be a controlled person, who is compassionate with their followers, loyal to all, able to admit mistakes, and one who seeks after God.
Know
David learned the aspects of leadership through an intimate relationship with God born through struggles. David learned early as a shepherd the need for communicating with God by forced loneliness on the hillsides of Bethlehem, keep watch over the sheep. David learned the power of God's deliverance through the killing of predators intent on killing the sheep. David learned the compassion to lead people in the tender manners of God, by leading and caring for the sheep of his father. David learned to wait on God to deliver on those hillsides. David the loyalty needed to perform the duties assigned while serving his father. David recorded these lessons in the Psalms. David knew that God was a God worthy of worship and One Who performed righteously among men. David knew he was to emulate God before humanity.
Do
Therefore, David performed the tasks assigned by King Saul wisely. David played for the crazed king when asked, ducked thrown javelins, and remained loyal even while being pursued for execution. David never refused to play, heaved a well-aimed javelin in return, or took the life of the king, even when presented with opportunity. David knew the Lord, David behaved accordingly. David knew God's power to deliver so David prayed for deliverance, and waited on God to deliver. David demonstrates humility, performing according to his knowledge of God. David remained loyal to the king's son, loyal to his men, loyal to the king, but more importantly loyal to the plan of God for his life. David does what godly leaders do; they seek God's will.
Scriptural Leadership
David's portrayal as the suffering servant who God transforms by the roles he plays in life. David, as Edwards reveals, handles these situations because he trusts in God, not because he is weak. David as a warrior, the slayer of Goliath, could have returned a killing javelin to Saul numerous times. David's restraint is born from the learned trust of God. David's compassion, humility, and temperance, as painted by Edwards, are traits that godly leaders possess. David had no need for vengeance because to God alone does vengeance belong. Even in the latter years of his reign, when Absalom revolts against his father, David remains calm and quietly leaves the palace trusting God to restore him or take him home. Spiritual leaders who follow David have a quite strength born from an intimate relationship with God.
Absalom
Absalom, the eldest son of David, the one everyone expects to be king is a good-looking man endued with wisdom. He however utilizes his strengths in rebellion against God's plan for Israel.
Be
Absalom, as presented, demonstrates a few expectations people hold for leaders. Saul taught the reader leaders are to be strong, determined, powerful people. David added to these qualities the aspects of following God, brave, humble, compassionate, and loyal. Absalom demonstrates that leaders need be charismatic and wise in their ability to handle the troubles of the people. Absalom learned well the need for wisdom growing in the home of the king.
Know
Absalom learned early that people respect power, looks, and wisdom. He knew that he was born with two of those aspects. He knew the power he naturally held as the eldest son of the king. He knew the way people looked at him, and how he reminded them of his father, the king. Absalom knew that wisdom came from putting knowledge to practice. Absalom knew that righteousness and fairness belonged to everyone, even the king. Absalom knew of his father's mistake and saw God's forgiveness. Absalom felt he knew that his father mishandled his punishment for avenging the wrong of sister by a half brother. Absalom knew how to get back at his father.
Do
The presentation of Absalom is one of knowledge lifting a person up in pride. It is the picture of one under authority perceiving injustice and rising against that injustice. Absalom did rebel without a plan; it was not the mindless actions of rage. As Edwards reminds, Absalom used his natural gifts of influence as the king's son, his looks, and acquired wisdom from watching his father hold court to win the people from David. Absalom did that which is the right of any upcoming star in leadership; he took from someone who he felt was no longer capable of leading properly. In many ways, he performed one of the first hostile takeovers in history.
Scriptural Leadership
Absalom once again demonstrates traits admired by the world and Christians. He is young, vibrant, charismatic, wise, and influential. However, he represents the exterior power with no interior development. Absalom does not see the mercy his father gave to him by not requiring his life or that he live in a city of refuge. Instead, Absalom embodies the idea that those who want recognition in life must claim that power for themselves, no matter who is hurt. Absalom did sell out his own father. Christian leaders may be charismatic, the need be wise, and they must have influence, but they must allow God to grant their recognition or they will impose their will against God's will.
Personal Reflection
As an educator and leader, the need for dynamic leadership is paramount. One can chose to develop this through exterior skill developments or one can allow God to transform the inner person. As for this educator, both paths have been followed, and the temptation to return javelins as not always been resisted. The amount of suffering required to kill pride can lead to the near insurmountable desire to rebel against God's plan, exercise some aspect of admirable leadership in a worldly manner and grasp early that which one is not ready to possess. For a man of action the waiting on God's timing is the most stressful event on earth. However, through this tale understanding arises that this time of learning humility afford the leader the strength and patience to bear the trials to come.
References
Edwards, G. (1980), A tale of three kings: a study in brokenness, Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois
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