QT 12 Dec 13, Great leadership is Just

2 Sam 4:7-12 (ESV) When they came into the house, as he lay on his bed in his bedroom, they struck him and put him to death and beheaded him. They took his head and went by the way of the Arabah all night, 8 and brought the head of Ish-bosheth to David at Hebron. And they said to the king, "Here is the head of Ish-bosheth, the son of Saul, your enemy, who sought your life. The Lord has avenged my lord the king this day on Saul and on his offspring." 9 But David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, "As the Lord lives, who has redeemed my life out of every adversity, 10  when one told me, 'Behold, Saul is dead,' and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and killed him at Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his news. 11 How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous man in his own house on his bed, shall I not now require his blood at your hand and destroy you from the earth?" 12 And David commanded his young men, and they killed them and cut off their hands and feet and hanged them beside the pool at Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth and buried it in the tomb of Abner at Hebron.

NOTE: Again and again, men do a poor job of reading David. They apply a human standard as the likely measure of David's reaction and the result is that they misjudge him. David had a relationship with God and while it did not prevent him from some stupid decisions, it did affect his life in a positive sense. David was more interested in doing the right thing and treating people in the right way, than getting revenge or consolidating his power. He realized that God was his avenger, and God was the power behind the throne. He saw through the deception in men, and for the most part dealt with evil men as they deserved (with the possible exception of Joab, although we don't know the whole story). He had done the same thing once before with regards to the news of Saul's death. Men could have reported a death in battle and there would be no consequence, but murder was wrong. David displays one of the fine aspects of a great leader, justice. He deals with people in a way that is right. When justice reigns, there is peace. When injustice exists, there is insecurity and evil. David sets the tone from the beginning, even when he might be the beneficiary of injustice, he stamps it out. As a result, most people will think twice about killing an enemy of David without sufficient cause. So, David's power might suffer, but he believed God gave him his power, not men. So too, I must remain a man of justice even if I might gain by the unjust action. Dishonest gain is wrong. God, help me to have open eyes so that I am not fooled by folly.