His Word Today: Courage in some cases

The City of David

Good morning everyone,

Today, we continue our reading of the second Book of Samuel and the story of David who is chosen by the tribes of Israel and anointed for service (cf 2 Sam 5:1-3).  David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned for forty years (2 Sam 5:4).  Even at the age of thirty, David would probably have had questions - at least at the beginning of his reign - about what he should do, when he should do it and how he should go about it.  These are the questions that everyone must ask of him- or herself when they find themselves in situations of leadership.

Self-doubt can be debilitating, but every leader must also deal with the doubt that comes from others, for no matter how clever an idea may be, there will always be some people who will question its wisdom.  When David and his men set out for Jerusalem ... David was told, 'You cannot enter here' (2 Sam 5:6), yet David did not give in to this expression of mistrust.  He took the stronghold of Zion, which is (now known as) the City of David (1 Sam 5:7).

Many effective leaders have really good ideas but they must always find a way to deal with the nay-sayers.  If we give in to the doubt that is expressed all around us, we would constantly be questioning ourselves, effectively standing still or seeming to be sliding backwards.  Today, pray for the wisdom that was David's gift.  Pray for the wisdom to know when we should stop and question yourself before you make a decision that might be harmful to others, but pray equally for the wisdom and the courage to trust your instincts when the decision that must be made is for the greater good of all those concerned.

Have a great day.