Today’s Devotion
Topic: Great Leaders! (SELF ASSESSMENT)
Background: Welcome to our weekly bible study. A great leader is not only one who is able to bring out the best in others, but also able to create the platform for them to grow. Invariably, their individual successes come together to confirm how great their leader is. Let’s see how the story of King David demonstrated this divine principle.
Text: 1 Samuel 23: 8- 19
8 These are the names of David’s mighty warriors: Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahkemonite, was chief of the Three; he raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed in one encounter.
9 Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty warriors, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim for battle. Then the Israelites retreated, 10 but Eleazar stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day. The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead.
11 Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them. 12 But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the Lord brought about a great victory.
13 During harvest time, three of the thirty chief warriors came down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. 14 At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. 15 David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!”
16 So the three mighty warriors broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the Lord. 17 “Far be it from me, Lord, to do this!” he said. “Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?” And David would not drink it. Such were the exploits of the three mighty warriors. Amen
Questions:
- Running from the wrath of king Saul, David “escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader. About 400 men were with him” (1 Samuel 22: 1- 2). Yet he transformed them from being outcasts and outlaws into great warriors. What are some of the principles to learn from such a leader?
- What are some of the advantages a great leader can derive from the people he/ she grooms for excellence. (read verses 13- 16)
- From verse 17, how sensitive or insensitive was David? What role does being sensitive or otherwise to the plight of your followers play in ensuring commitment to the common cause?
- It is obvious that almost all the victories of war David is credited with was due to the support of the THE THREE MIGHTY WARRIORS, (such as Josheb- Basshebeth who could kill 800 men in one encounter), and the thirty chief warriors. What can we learn from this?
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