The Marks of a Leader that God Applauds

Background

• Psalms 73 – 83 are called the Songs of Asaph, who was King David’s Chief Musician (1 Chr. 16:4-7)
• Psalm 78 is the longest of those songs where Asaph spends 69 verses rehearsing the kindness of God to rebellious Israel
• In the last three verses, he takes a turn and gives us a detailed picture of the qualities inherent in his great leader, King David.

God applauds the leader that is chosen (vs. 70a)

1. He also chose David His servant,
2. Chose– OT:977 bachar – selected; describes the kind of choosing that is made when more than one item is examined, with only one being selected. (Word Wealth, New Spirit-Filled Life Application Bible)
3. His servant – Not “to be His servant”, implying that this was someone who was already yielded to God’s will.
4. When God looks for leaders, He looks where leaders are already serving. You want the applause—get in place.

God applauds the leader that is committed (v. 70b – 71a)

1. And took him from the sheepfolds; from following the ewes that had young He brought him,
2. God finds a leader where he or she is already serving!
   • Moses was tending Jethro’s sheep – chosen to deliver God’s people
   • Elisha was plowing with oxen – chosen to be the successor to Elijah
   • Amos was following the flock – chosen to prophesy to Israel
   • Peter and Andrew were fishing – chosen to be fishers of men
3. When we say, “when I get in position I will do this and that”—that says you are not ready for this or that. Not getting ready—already ready.

God applauds the leader with proven character (v. 72)

1. So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart,
2. Integrity of his heart– moral innocence and uprightness on the inside
3. “Character is who you are in the unsupervised areas of your life.” – Pastor Clando Brownlee
4. Proven character is not to be confused with perfection or sinlessness
5. 1 Kings 15:5-6 – because David what was right in the eyes of the Lord and had not turned aside from anything that He commanded him all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.
6. David was flawed but he was still favored;
7. Acts 13:22 – And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will.
8. When not in right character—make it right. Character is on the inside. It makes you apologize, even if you are not wrong.

God applauds the leader that is competent (v. 72)

1. And guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.
2. By the skillfulness of his hands– the intelligence, discretion, and wisdom with which one exercises power
3. John Maxwell – The Law of the Lid
4. 2 Cor. 3:5-6a NKJV – Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able (enabled, qualified) ministers of the new testament;
5. 2 Cor. 3:5-6a NIV –Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant –
6. Make sure you do not take the glory for yourself. Take the compliment and give the glory to God. Everyone has a skill and we should be sharpening that skill. Competence comes from God.

God applauds the leader that is compassionate (v. 72)

1. He shepherded them…and guided them
2. Shepherded– OT:7462 ra’ach – feed, to tend a flock
3. Guided– OT:5148 nachah – transport, lead, and govern
4. 3:15 NKJV – And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding
5. 3:15 MSG – I’ll give you good shepherd-rulers who rule my way, who rule you with intelligence and wisdom.
6. The shepherd is not always in front. There are times He is in the rear, because the one in the back may fall away. He has trained the one in front. Everyone is a leader in some capacity.

NLT – 1 Peter 5:2-4:  Care for the flock of God entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly — not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God.  Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care but lead them by your good example. And when the head Shepherd comes, your reward will be a never-ending share in his glory and honor.