Daily D – 1 Chronicles 27:32-34

by | May 9, 2023 | Daily D | 0 comments

David G Bowman Logo

1 Chronicles 27:32-34  Jonathan, David’s uncle, was a wise counselor to the king, a man of great insight, and a scribe. Jehiel the Hacmonite was responsible for teaching the king’s sons. Ahithophel was the royal adviser. Hushai the Arkite was the king’s friend. Ahithophel was succeeded by Jehoiada son of Benaiah and by Abiathar. Joab was commander of the king’s army. (NLT)

Isolation is a leader’s constant temptation and devoted enemy. The best leadership is provided by teams, not by individuals. Individuals have blind spots and weaknesses. Teams see the big picture and the details, the vision and the mission. Who are your closest friends and advisors?

There are a lot of people named in 1 Chronicles 23-27. It’s easy to get tired of reading all of those names. It’s good to know each person named was in his position because of demonstrated ability and how it connected with the abilities of others. Connected leaders have a multiplying effect. 

There are a handful of choice leaders King David kept close. There are some people we cannot lead without. These are those we trust more than we trust ourselves. 

Consider the leaders King David trusted to tell him the truth; leaders he knew would not simply tell him what he wanted to hear, but told him what he needed to know. First was a man David had known his whole life. Uncle Jonathan lived up to his name, which means God’s Gracious Gift. Saul’s son, who was David’s best friend while he was alive, was also named Jonathan. It’s good to have people who are God’s Gracious Gifts in your life, no matter their names.

Uncle Jonathan managed a storehouse of memories to refer to when he provided counsel to his nephew, the king. Who better to help David remember where he came from? He could help David untie the knots of the past and their enduring effects. He likely came closest to valuing the same things David valued. He was a writer. Aren’t you glad David learned what Uncle Jonathan modeled? What would we do without his poetry and songs?

Jehiel was entrusted with the job of educating the king’s sons. He had a lot of sons, you may recall. Princes can be a bit self-important and competitive. Who would you give the job of educating future government officials, including the future king? Jehiel was likely a no-nonsense man with an outstanding intellect.

Ahithophel was the royal advisor. He knew not only what to do but why to do it and why and when. Knowing what to do is never enough. The motive is as important as the action. The timing of the action is as important as why we take it. If you remember the end of Ahithophel’s story, then you remember it took two people to replace him, Jehoiada and Abiathar. 

Joab was the commander of the army. He was as tough as nails and as mean as a snake. He was hardheaded, stiff-necked, and exceedingly capable. He was not, however, David’s friend. That title fell to Hushai the Arkite. Finding a true friend is like finding an extra life. I don’t remember who gets the credit for this saying, but I heard the long-time pastor of Park Cities Baptist Church say it on one of his television commercials years ago. 

Who are your Top Five friends and advisors? Who makes you better than you are? Who loves you enough not to be impressed with you? Who has the institutional memory to help you avoid missteps and to step up to your responsibilities at the right time for the right reasons?

One thing King David never said was, “It’s lonely at the top.” He knew what we must learn as soon as possible: We are only as lonely as we choose to be. Lonely leaders trip over their own liabilities. 

Never lead alone.

I will depend on wise friends and colleagues to empower me to live a more fruitful and effective life. 

Our Father, thank you for filling my life with wonderful people who make me better than I could be on my own. Thank you for wise counsel, necessary confrontation, patient instruction, and enduring friendship. Make me the kind of friend to others I have in these exemplary leaders and friends. Amen. 

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

CONNECT WITH ME!

Interested in learning more about Church Unique or Life Younique? Send a note through the Get In Touch box or Message me through the Facebook link above.

          Church Unique Logo          Auxano Logo

GET IN TOUCH!

READ MY BLOG!

Daily D – Psalm 119:1-8

Psalm 119:1-8

“Joyful are people of integrity,
who follow the instructions of the Lord.
Joyful are those who obey his laws
and search for him with all their hearts.
They do not compromise with evil,
and they walk only in his paths.
You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully.
Oh, that my actions would consistently
reflect your decrees!
Then I will not be ashamed
when I compare my life with your commands.
As I learn your righteous regulations,
I will thank you by living as I should!
I will obey your decrees.
Please don’t give up on me!”

Daily D – 2 Kings 20:16-19

2 Kings 20:16-19 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Listen to this message from the Lord: The time is coming when everything in your palace—all the treasures stored up by your ancestors until now—will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the Lord. Some of your very own sons will be taken away into exile. They will become eunuchs who will serve in the palace of Babylon’s king.”

Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “This message you have given me from the Lord is good.” For the king was thinking, “At least there will be peace and security during my lifetime.”

Daily D – John 16:33

John 16:33 “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Daily D – John 16:19-22

John 16:19-22 Jesus realized they wanted to ask him about it, so he said, “Are you asking yourselves what I meant? I said in a little while you won’t see me, but a little while after that you will see me again. I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy. It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world. So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy.”

Daily D – John 15:12-13

John 15:12, 13 “This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”