Few things are more difficult for a leader than to give a firm rebuke to a team member. Yet there are times when confrontation is the most loving thing a leader can do for another person. Read 2 Kings 20:16-19a.

Hezekiah was one of only two kings in Judah who completely followed the Lord. In the days of Esarhaddon, King of Assyria, Hezekiah became ill to the point of death. Hezekiah poured out his heart to God in prayer and God graciously granted him an extra 15 years of life. Read more »

In the Bible, the book of Proverbs reads like a manual for dealing with people. It should be on every leaders list of “must read” material every year. I recommend that you pick a month with 31 days and read a chapter a day each day that month. As the Proverbs unfold, among other great advice, leaders will find a recurring theme, they should pray for growth in wisdom, common sense, good judgment, knowledge and understanding. Today our study shows the application of wisdom by a leader that we can all learn from. Read 2 Samuel 20:14-22.

As the people were re-establishing David as king following the defeat of his son’s attempted overthrow of his government, “…a troublemaker named Sheba son of Bicri, a Benjamite, happened to be there. He sounded the trumpet and shouted, ‘We have no share in David, no part in Jesse’s son! Every man to his tent, O Israel!’ So all the men of Israel deserted David to follow Sheba son of Bicri” (20:1-2a). David knew a split in the nation between his tribe, Judah, and his predecessor Saul’s tribe of Benjamin would do more harm than the rebellion of his own son so when David returned to the palace in Jerusalem he summoned the commander of the army and sent him after Sheba to put down this revolt with force. Read more »

Ephesians 4:15 says, “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.” Read 2 Samuel 14 and 15.

Absalom, King David’s son, knew Amnon, his half brother, had raped his sister Tamar, yet he failed to confront Amnon directly. Instead Absalom harbored his anger for two years before finally arranging the murder of Amnon (2 Samuel 13). Read more »

Effective leaders understand that when a leader fails, the preferred outcome is restoration, not destruction. The restoration process of a leader cannot succeed without careful attention to communication. Read again 2 Samuel 12.

The results Nathan achieved with David would never have been realized if Nathan had talked “to” or “at” David. Nathan succeeded because he communicated in an effective way, tailored specifically for his friend. The following are some elements of communication leaders can learn from the David-Nathan story: Read more »

Many things can disqualify someone from godly leadership. Unrestrained vengeance is one of the most effective disqualifiers for a leader. God tells us that vengeance belongs to Him: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; their day of disaster is near and their doom rushes upon them.” Leaders who cannot humble themselves to serve God and those He has raised up will eventually act out of selfish motives and hurt themselves, their team and even the Kingdom. Read 2 Samuel 3:6-39.

Abner had been a general in King Saul’s army and after Saul’s death was the primary military leader holding the opposition forces together under Saul’s son Ish-Bosheth. On a more personal note, Abner was the man who had killed one of David’s nephews, Asahel, in a battle several years earlier. After a falling out between Abner and Ish-Bosheth, Abner contacted David and an alliance was made that in effect would unite the entire nation of Israel under David’s rule. Read more »