Fridays with David

Read 2 Samuel 12:1-4 – Then the Lord sent Nathan to David. And he came to him, and said to him: “There were two men in one city, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had exceedingly many flocks and herds. But the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb which he had bought and nourished; and it grew up together with him and with his children. It ate of his own food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom; and it was like a daughter to him. And a traveler came to the rich man, who refused to take from his own flock and from his own herd to prepare one for the wayfaring man who had come to him; but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.” (NKJV)

One of the risks of authoritarian leadership is that no one can challenge the king’s personal choices. Joab knew of David’s wicked dealings with Uriah. Likely many in the palace knew about the situation with Bathsheba as well. But no one could step up and hold the king accountable. So, the Lord sent Nathan the prophet. As leaders, we must always keep ourselves within reach of those who follow us so their voices can steer us from the trouble we may choose for ourselves. The leader that cannot be corrected by those he leads is much more likely to drift into tragedy and lead those who follow in that same direction. As dads, we may come to think that our authority over our children eliminates any accountability to them. But if we act carelessly or fail to live consistently before them, their confidence will be shaken—their confidence in us and their confidence in the importance of doing what is right. In places where we are the biggest or the strongest, we must always be careful to do what is right and avoid the temptation to use our prominent place as an excuse for selfishness. For there is always One who is bigger, and though unseen, He is in the room too.

– Dr. Mike Clarensau serves as Senior Director of the Healthy Church Network of the Assemblies of God.