In my Leadership devotional (by John Maxwell), the topic was about "Encourage Others' Strengths." The reading was on 1 Samuel 17:33. I decided to read on the whole chapter of the Bible, and it provided me with more insights about the topic in Philippine politics and leadership which I have been thinking for more than a week now.
Actually, I just would like to point out some criticisms and what the Bible answers to how leadership should be viewed in this situation.
Just for a background, the chapter of 1 Samuel 17 narrates how David, the youngest son of Jesse, servant of King Saul of Israel, defeated Goliath, the mightiest of heroes of the Philistines, with a slingshot. Maxwell's reading states how Saul viewed David's youth and inexperience in human battle before fighting Goliath.
The voice of the people is the voice of God - vox Populi, vox Dei
Christians, Catholic or otherwise, should know these verses:
But when they said, "Give us a king to lead us," this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD. And the LORD told him: "Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do." (1 Samuel 8:6-9 NIV)
God does not need human vote for His wise decision.
How the Lord chooses the leader
But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7 NIV)
Not by human standards nor popular vote does God anoint.
What would Jesus do on GMA's mistake (or even sin)
Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died more than that, who was raised to life is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. (Romans 8:34 NIV)
Jesus saves and forgives. Of course, take note:
What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? (Romans 6:1-3 NIV)
What a leader would do in a moment of challenge to his or her flock
But David said to Saul, "Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. (1 Samuel 17:34-35 NIV)
The leader protects the flock from mischievous agents. He cannot let other people carry the flock easily. It would be irresponsibility.
Does God condemn the sinner? Is there a need for "integrity? for the leader?"
(After the long chapter of David's SIN - not JUST A mistake)
Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and he went to her and lay with her. She gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. The LORD loved him; and because the LORD loved him, he sent word through Nathan the prophet to name him Jedidiah. (2 Samuel 12:24-25 NIV)
Leaders are humans who could commit mistakes. But mistake or sin does not define the man. David, the "man after God's own heart," has committed a mistake, and was punished, but God did not take his name away from the Book of Life, nor was leadership taken away from him. Images are human, God looks at the heart. Also, applicable among the candidates,
All have turned aside,
they have together become corrupt;
there is no one who does good,
not even one. (Psalms 14:3 NIV)
Should only one be condemned? Whoever that points a finger to an enemy, at least three are pointing back at them.
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