Iron Leadership – April 10, 2015
 Details:
- Sign-up sheet:
- Next meeting – April 24th
 Background:
We are quickly coming to the end of David’s life…and what you discover
is that David faces significant leadership pressures from beginning to end.
Way back in I Samuel 16 – When David is just 15 years old, David is
anointed by Samuel to be the next King. David faces is first battle in the
very next chapter when defeats the Philistine giant named:Goliath…
(David is probably still 15 years old)
- Following is battle against Goliath, David begins fighting against
another giant: Saul – the first king who spends a significant amount
of time chasing David around and trying to kill him.
- David eventually becomes King but it comes at the cost of his best
friend: Jonathon --- Then David has to endure the constant threats
and pressures as King
- David has to live with his failures…..especially with Bathsheba
- David endures being thrown out of his kingdom by his own son –
Absalom….and also being betrayed by his most trusted advisor:
Ahithophel.
- David is restored to his thrown but at the cost of his son’s life.
- David has to lead Israel through a 3 year famine
- Finally, now 50 years later. David is not 15 but 65….Read: (21:15-16)
What does this sound like? It’s sounds like Groundhog Day! After 50
years of leadership David is still fighting Philistine Giants…..but now
“David grew weary” – uh……….no surprise – wouldn’t you?
When I read these verses I couldn’t decide how I felt:
 Depressed: I mean….50 years of battles and yet nothing has
changed.
 Sober Realism: Because I am a Christian Leader I know that this
world is not my home….so in this world, there will always be giants
to fight and You Never Arrive!
Sure there seasons of life which are more peaceful than others – yet the
battle against my own sin, the battle against the consequences of sin in
this world…..they never end. Like David fighting Giant Philistines, I
will be fighting many of the same battles from beginning to end.
Question: Despite this roller-coaster ride of leadership which seems to
terminate in the same place it began……how is David able to keep moving
forward? What is David’s fixed point by which he navigates through the
turmoil of his life of leadership? Answer: II Samuel 22
 Video: Apollo 13 Course Correction
 II Samuel 22 – David’s fixed point: (22:2) – “The LORD” – Yahweh
(Read 1-7, 28-37, 47-51) - Worth Noticing:
1. David’s Song of Reflection:
David is at the end of his life, this is his closing song. He is reflecting back
on his life and notice that his song is not about David. David’s song is not
about his great and powerful reign as King (NO) – David’s song is about a
great and powerful God. David’s closing song doesn’t focus on his
leadership and legacy……..instead it focuses on the LORD. *Refreshing*
ILL – Rick Warren’s Book: The Purpose Driven Life – First Chapter
answering the question: Why am I Here? – Opening line of the chapter:
“It’s not about You!” **David had a fixed point by which he navigated his
life by – and he wasn’t the point – God was!
2. Rock Bottom: (vs. 5-6)
David hit Rock Bottom. Someone said: “When you hit ‘Rock Bottom’ you
better make sure you hit a rock” --- In other words – You better make sure
you hit something/someone which won’t ever move.
This is true for David – (vs. 2) – “The Lord is my Rock” – For this 50 year
leadership roller coaster….underneath it all for David was a Rock which
wouldn’t ever move. God is the same yesterday, today and forever. God is
unchanging and eternal……..this brought great comfort and courage to
David, especially when he hit ‘Rock Bottom’
3. David learned absolute dependence: (vs. 7, 18-19 & 49)
Discuss: Talk about why learning absolute dependence is an important
leadership character trait to learn and to teach to others.
4. Gentleness: (vs. 36) – “Your gentleness made me great”
Other translations: “Your stooping down has made me great” – “Thy
condescending greatness has made me great” – “Your lowliness makes me
great” --- This phrase represents one of the most important Christian
Leadership character traits – Why? Where do you see Jesus exercising this
leadership character trait?
5. David’s Hope: (vs. 51)
David’s hope rests in God’s steadfast love and his movement toward his
people forever! David knows the end of his reign is near….he is not the
fixed point – God is.
 Questions:
1. As a leader do you wrongly hope that one day you will “arrive” –
mistakenly thinking that (in this world) you will reach a place when
your battles will be over? If so – what problems does that cause?
2. When you think about your life, your leadership, your legacy….what do
you do to make sure that – “It’s not about You!”
3. What would be a weakness in a person’s leadership if they had never hit
‘Rock Bottom?’ Other that the Lord, what are common foundations men
often build their lives upon? How do those cause problems for
leadership?
4. Discuss: Talk about why learning absolute dependence is an important
leadership character trait to learn and to teach to others.
5. “Your gentleness made me great” - This phrase represents one of the
most important Christian Leadership character traits – Why? Where do
you see Jesus exercising this leadership character trait?
6. David’s hope (vs. 51) is outside of himself and his leadership, instead it’s
in God’s steadfast leadership. How does this hope help us in our
leadership challenges today?