David Leadership

1 Chronicles 12:18-21 Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, chief of the Thirty, and he said: "We are yours, O David! We are with you, O son of Jesse! Success, success to you, and success to those who help you, for your God will help you." So David received them and made them leaders of his raiding bands. 19 Some of the men of Manasseh defected to David when he went with the Philistines to fight against Saul. (He and his men did not help the Philistines because, after consultation, their rulers sent him away. They said, "It will cost us our heads if he deserts to his master Saul.") 20 When David went to Ziklag, these were the men of Manasseh who defected to him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu and Zillethai, leaders of units of a thousand in Manasseh. 21 They helped David against raiding bands, for all of them were brave warriors, and they were commanders in his army. -

He surrounded himself with the right kind of people o Fierce loyalty o Committed to God o Leader of leaders

1 Samuel 18:12-14 12 Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had left Saul. 13 So he sent David away from him and gave him command over a thousand men, and David led the troops in their campaigns. 14 In everything he did he had great success, because the LORD was with him. -

Success as a leader came when he was actively leading his people and when the Lord was with him. His failure with Bathsheba came when he was not doing this.

Psalm 78:70-72 70 He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens; 71 from tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance. 72 And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them. -

God chose him because of his integrity and his skills (i.e. Psalmist, government, military). That combination makes for a great leader.

David’s path to becoming a great leader was a life long journey: 1. Formative years a. Tending sheep b. Slaying Goliath c. Serving Saul 2. Adult Life a. Leading raiding bands of men b. King of Israel 3. Outstanding traits a. Humility – tending sheep b. Respect – sparing Saul c. Faith – defeating Goliath d. Vision – conquering enemies/expanding kingdom and finishing well