Pastor Marshall Ochs | October 15, 2023
In this message, Pastor Marshall teaches from 2 Samuel 23-24. These chapters cover David’s final reflections on leadership and the consequences of taking a census. These chapters help us see the wonderful blessings that godly leadership brings to God’s people as well as the warning to not idolize leadership. The warning exposes the temptation of leaders to look to people for answers and the temptation for people to put all their hope in leaders.
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Godly leaders, who fear the Lord are compared to the sun on a clear sky morning. Worthless leaders are compared to thorns which no one wants to touch. When David was following God’s leading, Israel was blessed. When he was full of disobedience, Israel suffered. As you reflect on this, take inventory on what kind of leader you are in the areas of influence you have.
What areas of influence and leadership has God placed you in? (Family, friendships, workplace, church and community.) What kind of atmosphere do you cultivate in these areas by your choices of conduct? Do you lead with godliness, justice, equity, compassion, mercy, etc.? Do you lead with harshness, selfishness, impatience, greed, etc.? Are you more concerned with how circumstances will affect you rather than how they impact others?
What kind of leaders do you follow? One of the mistakes we can make is idolizing or worshiping leaders. As leaders, we can also fall into the pit of desiring and enjoying the worship of others. Both are dangerous! Human leaders fail. The only One truly worthy of following and worshiping is Jesus! Marshall reminded us today that if Christ is not working through us, then the enemy is! If we aren’t aspiring to being a godly leader, then we are a worthless one!
We see the leaders in David’s army and their achievements recorded in chapter 23. This serves as a reminder to us that our names are recorded in the Book of Life if we have made the decision to follow Christ. We have an inheritance! Like these soldiers, we will be rewarded. We must hold fast to our faith, never give up and take courage – even when things are challenging and difficult. We must stay faithful to our God!
In chapter 24, David is once again tested and falls prey to putting his trust in the size of his army rather than in God. This causes the consequence of a plague killing 70,000 of his men. When we put our trust in anything or anyone over our trust in God, be aware that God may remove that very thing or person we have put our confidence in.