4 Leadership Lessons from Samuel, Saul, & King David

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1. To be God’s leader requires PATIENCE.

As we see often in the Bible when God has a special purpose for someone, there is something special about the birth. Hannah was grief stricken because she had no male child. She prayed to God for a son and vowed to give him back to serve the Lord. It took her a long time to receive this gift. She had a son, named him Samuel, and took the young boy to the priest, Eli, to keep her promise. 1 Samuel 3 is the call of Samuel. The call of Samuel (3:11–4:1)  is a story of God speaking to Samuel and calling him at a very young age to be a prophet. Samuel would speak for God in Israel for many years to come, first as priest and prophet, then as military commander and judge. It would take many years that God would set this up. 

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David was anointed as Israel’s king when he was a boy, probably in his early teens. But he was 30 before becoming king of Judah (which was just part of Israel) and 37 before he was named king of all Israel, as promised.

Having to wait a couple of decades for something you’ve been promised, that’s rightfully yours, is hard enough. But the existing king, Saul, spent a fair portion of that time trying to kill David. This forced him to stay on the run, hiding in caves and fleeing to another country. At least twice, David had a clear opportunity to kill Saul, and considering the circumstances it could have been considered self-defense. But David didn’t. He knew that God was in control, and trusted Him enough to wait on His timing.

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

- David (Psalm 27:14)

2. To be God’s leader requires HUMILITY.

 

The people of Israel suffered repeated defeats in battle while Samuel was their leader. The people were angry about that, and they also thought Samuel was getting awfully old (read 1 Samuel 8:4–9).

 

Who were the Israelites really rejecting when they asked Samuel to appoint a king for them? 

(The Lord, Israel's true king.)

 Samuel no doubt felt rejected and resisted the people's demands. But God advised Samuel to hear them out.

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Having a king meant taxation, loss of personal freedoms, and forced labor. And greater still, it contradicted who they were as people whose only king was the Lord. Samuel, as prophet and judge, was divinely chosen, but a king would expect his son to succeed him, taking the choice away from the Lord.

"Do you think the Israelites ended up getting a king?"

(read 1 Samuel 8:19–22 to find the answer).

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With the establishment of kingship in ancient Israel, the role of judge was split in two. The judges' role of both governor and spiritual leader was divided between kings and prophets. No longer did the people see God as the sole ruler of Israel.
 

Now flash forward to David. Unlike Samuel when God calls him it is not a life long calling, it is not one where he has all eyes watching. He is a shepherd boy. When he does get called up to the palace, instead of demanding the throne, he works as a servant. He performs music for the king whenever Saul demands it, like a human iPod. When his dad asks the anointed king to serve snacks to his older brothers, he serves snacks to his older brothers.

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David was humble. He knew that, even as king, he was still just a servant of the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

Who am I, Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? (2 Samuel 7:18)

3. To be God’s leader requires COURAGE.

God granted the people's request for a king and called on the prophet Samuel to anoint Saul as the king for the nation of Israel. Read 1 Samuel 9:27–10:1. What did Samuel do to show that Saul was chosen as king? Explain that this anointing-with-oil ceremony was the way to designate someone as chosen by God for a certain task. How does 1 Samuel 10:10 show that God was still in charge? When God chooses people for specific tasks, God gives them the ability and skills to complete the tasks.

As king, Saul started out as a good military leader. As he grew older, he became unstable and a disappointing king. He began to lose the support of the people and the support of God. He disobeyed God and was faced with the bad news that God brought to him through the prophet Samuel. Read 1 Samuel 15:26–28 to find out what bad news Samuel brought to Saul.
• What do you think it feels like to lose a leadership position?
• How do you think it would feel to be Samuel bringing God's news to Saul? How much Courage did he need?
• How can you know if a leader is acting according to God's will?
 

David would be raised in this harsh kingdom. Ultimately, it was David not Saul God had called.

 

When Goliath came out to challenge the army of Israel, everyone was afraid of the 9-foot giant. Besides being king, Saul was a head taller than any other Israelite (1 Samuel 9:2). So when the giant Goliath came out to challenge the army of Israel, I’m sure people were looking to him to do something. Instead, he was “dismayed and terrified” (1 Samuel 17:11), just like everyone else.

Except for David. The kid brother ends up comforting the scared king, assuring Saul that he’d take care of it (1 Samuel 17:32). And you probably know what happens next.

David was brave because he knew Who had his back. If you’re on God’s side, then there is nothing to fear—not even death.

Though our giants might look different today, there is definitely still evil in the world that we need to stand up against. We need not be afraid if our hope is in the Ruler of the universe.

The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?

- David (Psalm 27:1)

4. To be God’s leader requires FAITH.

Throughout all of this, David showed that he had faith in God. He believed that God was in control. God had promised that David would be king, and since he wasn’t king yet, that meant Saul couldn’t kill him. Same with Goliath. When others brought up doubts, David pointed to evidence of how God had taken care of him in the past (1 Samuel 17:33-37). He trusted that God would continue to keep His promises.

But I trust in you, Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me.
 

Does one of your friends or you hold a leadership position in school, the community, or the church, such as president of a student organization, captain of a sports team, or leader in their scout troop? What is your leadership position? How were you chosen for this position? What are the best things you get to do in this position? What are your least favorite things you have to do in this position? What are you good at that makes you the right person for this position?
• What difference can you make in the world today by being leaders?
• How can you get involved in leadership positions?
• What qualities make for a good leader?

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