Qualities | Wayfarer

“Let us bring the ark of our God back to us, for we did not inquire of it during the reign of Saul.”
1 Chronicles 13:3 (NIV)

Along my life journey, I have had the opportunity to hold many positions of leadership. Being a disciple of Jesus, my faith is not compartmentalized into a piece of my life. My endeavor is that Jesus’ teaching and example will factor into my thoughts, words, and actions in everything I do and in every relationship. I’m certainly not perfect. I can give you references of individuals who would be happy to share with you my failings. Yet, as I glance back at my experiences on life’s road, I can certainly mark some progress I have made.

As a lover of history, I can think of exemplary leaders whose faith influenced them greatly. Of course, there are examples of effective leaders who had no faith at all. I can also think of examples of men of strong faith who weren’t particularly effective leaders. So, how does faith fit into the leadership equation?

In today’s chapter, our Chronicler continues his own revised history of the Kingdom of Israel. In previous chapters, it’s been clear that he is focused on the glory of King David’s reign and national unity. This makes perfect sense given the fact that he and his contemporaries are attempting to revive a sense of national identity and the faith of their ancestors from the rubble and restoration project of Jerusalem. For decades there had been no nation, no Temple, and no system of worship. Now, there are seeds of rebirth that have been planted. With his writing, the Chronicler hopes to help them take root in the hearts and minds of his people.

He began his history by fast-forwarding to the beginning of the reign of King David. He then gave priority to David’s military strength, the heroic warriors of David’s army, and the power with which David expanded the nation’s power, territory, and influence to historical heights.

Now, he chooses to take another shortcut and make an addition to the historical record. The Chronicler fast-forwards to David’s decision to bring the Ark of the Covenant [cue: Raiders of the Lost Ark Theme] to his new capital city of Jerusalem. The Ark had been basically relegated to storage. With David’s establishment of Jerusalem as the nation’s capital, there is a place for the nation’s faith and the sacrificial system of the Law of Moses to take front-and-center prominence for the first time since the days of Joshua.

Why is this important?

The Chronicler wants both his people’s sense of identity and the faith of their ancestors to take root in this era of rebirth and reconstruction. Having presented David as the mighty warrior who put Israel on the map as a regional power, he now shifts to David, the man after God’s own heart. David’s leadership was intimately intertwined with his faith in God and God was a part of everything he thought, said, and did. He certainly wasn’t perfect, but there is no doubt that his faith fueled his leadership and priorities.

In the quiet this morning, I find myself meditating on the intersection of faith and leadership. I acknowledge that some individuals are effective leaders with little or no faith in the equation. I, however, do not think I would personally be a good leader without my faith at the core of my being. My commitment as a disciple of Jesus has taught me humility, servant-heartedness, and love for the least. I think my ability as a leader grows with the increasing presence in my life of the Spirit’s fruit of love, love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. I’d hate to think what kind of a person, and what kind of leader, I would be without my relationship with Christ. Like David, my leadership and my faith are inextricably intertwined. I believe that’s what the Chronicler wants his readers to see.

If you know anyone who might be encouraged by today’s post, please share.

In the fifth year of King Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem.
1 Kings 14:25 (NIV)

I have observed that every life journey is marked by a certain amount of both difficulty and tragedy. The amount is relative. The difficulties and tragedies can be the consequences of foolish choices and behaviors. In some cases, they may be directly related to system patterns inherited from previous generations. In other cases, a difficulty or tragedy simply originates in what insurance companies still call the random “act of God.”

Another observation I’ve made along my life journey is the way in which people respond to difficulties and tragedies in life. It is not uncommon for people to get mad at God, blame God, conclude that God does not exist, or conclude that if God does exist they want nothing to do with a God who would allow such things to happen. Yet others find that the difficulties and tragedies lead to greater faith and dependence on God in whom they find comfort, peace, and presence as they work through the natural stages of grief that accompany hard times.

In today’s chapter, the author of Kings gives a brief summation of King Rehoboam’s reign. He first states the Rehoboam led the Kingdom of Judah astray in the pagan worship of local deities and the detestable things they practiced in their religions. He then notes the most important event of Rehoboam’s reign after the division of Israel into two Kingdoms. The Egyptian King Shishak laid siege to Jerusalem and plundered the vast wealth of Solomon’s treasury in both the palace and the Temple. The event is corroborated in an inscription listing the successful campaigns of Shishak in a temple in Thebes. The plundering of Jerusalem was a terrible and tragic blow to the nation of Judah which was already struggling from the split with the northern tribes and the loss of lucrative trade routes. Politically, it was a terrible blow to Rehoboam’s power, wealth, and approval ratings.

What the author of Kings does not mention, is an important tidbit that the author of Chronicles made sure to mention. For the first three years of his reign, Rehoboam followed the ways of the God of Israel and was faithful to the ways of his grandfather David. It was during and after the political and military difficulties with Egypt and the plundering of Jerusalem that Rehoboam abandons his faith in God and leads his people in embracing pagan deities.

In the quiet this morning, I have to wonder whether Rehoboam was angry with God for allowing such a blow to his kingdom and his reign. When tragedy struck, did he simply choose to walk away from God because he blamed God for the tragedy? If so, he was certainly ignoring the rather major role he played in putting himself and his tribe in a weakened position that led to easy defeat. Having lived his entire life in luxury, privilege, and power, it would not surprise me that Rehoboam would have difficulty in humbly accepting his own part in the difficulties he experienced.

And of course, that leads me to consider my own reactions and responses to life’s difficulties and tragedies. My spiritual journey has taught me what I mentioned earlier, that every person will experience difficulties and tragedies in life. Nowhere in the Great Story does God promise a person a life free of it. In fact, God promises I’ll have difficulties and tragedies in this fallen world, and it is through them I develop the character qualities He desires and I progress toward spiritual maturity.

If you know anyone who might be encouraged by today’s post, please share.