King David exemplified the wisdom of kingly proverbs in his life as a leader. He acted with forbearance towards Saul, remembering Saul's anointed status as Israel's king, despite Saul's unjust persecution. David could not be bribed, as seen when the false Amalekite sought favor after Saul's death and when two captains brought him the head of Ishbosheth, Saul's son, expecting reward. Recognizing their betrayal of their own leader, David's keen sense of justice led him to reject their actions. His compassion shone through when he decreed that a lame man would be a permanent fixture at the royal table, showing no shame for the man's infirmity, but rather overflowing with kindness and affection. As a shadow of the later Son of David, Jesus Christ, who is not ashamed to call us brethren, David embodied qualities of mercy, truth, and justice. These qualities, highlighted by Solomon for kings, are crucial for us as future rulers and can be practiced now in our roles as leaders in marriages, families, congregations, and the Body of Christ, without needing additional authority or a crown.

A leader is a person who goes in advance of and acts as an influence on others, guiding through verbal instruction and serving as an example, without forcing others. God's Word clearly shows that the failures of Israel and Judah as nations representing Him were largely due to a lack of good shepherding, directly pointing to the quality of leadership, with God calling their leaders foolish and irresponsible shepherds. Understanding leadership is vital for those called by God, as we must prepare to lead in His Kingdom, focusing on what we are to do within our calling now. Leadership is what God seeks in us, not in leading vast numbers, but in spiritual growth as we overcome our carnal natures through obediently following His way of life, primarily by example. To be a righteous leader, one must first be a serious follower, pursuing with vigor as emphasized in modern translations. God does not call those already developed in His way, but those with potential, gifting them with raw materials and creating them into what He desires, working in and through them with their cooperation to produce the qualities of leadership He seeks in His children. The covenants with God are foundational, providing overall direction and guidance, revealing His purposes and judgments, and preparing us to understand what He expects, so we can teach these things in His Kingdom. We must show leadership not just by knowing of these covenants, but by having a good understanding of our responsibilities to Him and our fellow man as delineated within them.

Throughout Israel's history with God, godly leadership was often scarce. Occasionally, leaders like Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, and David emerged, but many leaders, as depicted in Ezekiel 34, acted as shepherds who prioritized their own well-being over that of the citizens. In this context, a shepherd represents a human leader in authority, while sheep symbolize the citizens under their guidance. Leadership extends beyond religious ministry to include government, education, business, entertainment, media, and even parenting within the family. Humans, much like sheep, require quality leadership in crucial areas of life. Without it, due to satan's influence on the carnal mind, community life can degrade into a survival-of-the-fittest scenario, where many live as little more than slaves to the powerful, leading to a hopeless existence. Isaiah 3:12 highlights this decline in Judah, stating that those who lead cause the people to err and destroy their paths. A leader is defined as one who goes ahead, guiding and influencing others by example, whether intentionally or incidentally. Leadership does not imply forcing others, though it may occur in practice. Instead, a leader encourages and influences, making it easier for others to follow, such as by motivating a team to achieve a common goal. Isaiah 59 portrays a culture in collapse in Judah, revealing the daily consequences of self-centered leadership. Despite the people's appeals to God for relief from the surrounding chaos, He provided no immediate answers or righteous shepherds to guide them, as the very people crying out were guilty of the same sins contributing to the crisis. God awaits a sincere change, led by the people, to begin obeying His Word and restoring justice. Leadership remains critical for those in the church, as God's focus has shifted from physical Israel to the spiritual Israel of God. Christians are being prepared for future roles in God's Kingdom, which include both ruling and priestly responsibilities requiring leadership training. Revelation 5:10 indicates that Christ has appointed His called ones to be a kingdom of priests, serving God and bearing rulership, following the example of Christ, the Lamb, who is qualified through His accomplishments. Moses stands as an exemplary leader, serving Israel in multiple capacities under God. He functioned as a prophet delivering God's Word, a priest establishing the Levitical priesthood, a political leader governing internal and external affairs, a judge, and a military leader when needed. Despite his high-ranking positions and correct decisions, Moses remained humble, kind, moderate, and approachable, never letting his authority inflate his ego. Deuteronomy 18:15 prophesies a Prophet like Moses, later identified as Jesus Christ, who surpasses Moses as the Builder of the house while Moses was a servant within it. Joshua, another great leader from the Old Testament, consistently supported Moses and demonstrated faithfulness, even risking his life to stand by God's will. Chosen by God to lead Israel after Moses' death, Joshua remained a humble follower of the Almighty, submitting to divine authority. His legacy is captured in Joshua 24:31, noting that Israel served the Lord throughout his days and those of the elders who outlived him. From the New Testament, the apostle Paul exemplifies leadership through transformation. Initially a zealous enemy of Christ and His church, Paul, through God's grace and the Holy Spirit, became a humble yet courageous servant. His name change from Saul, meaning to demand, to Paul, meaning little, reflects this shift in character. As he testifies in I Corinthians 15:10, his abundant labor for the church was empowered by God's grace, marking him as a significant leader among followers.

Leadership, as portrayed in Ezekiel 34, reveals God's charge against the self-centered shepherds of Israel who failed to guide the people according to His will. These shepherds, representing leaders across various domains such as corporations and institutions, prioritized their own interests over their divine responsibilities. This poor leadership hindered the spiritual growth God desired for His people, a theme echoed in accounts of kings who did evil in the sight of the Lord, leading their subjects astray from God's path. Leadership, in a personal context, involves guiding oneself consistently along the righteous path while following Christ. This self-discipline, as exemplified by the apostle Paul in I Corinthians 9, is challenging but essential for maintaining focus on a vision of hope and achieving it. Such discipline bears fruit by enabling one to become a guide for others. Leadership, as God desires in His children, is a composite quality built through yielding to Him, emphasizing that it is created through following His way of life. Isaiah 3:12-14 highlights the failure of leaders who cause God's people to err and destroy their paths, with the Lord entering into judgment against the elders and princes for exploiting the poor. To lead, as defined, means to go ahead, guide, conduct, or influence others without forcing them, acting as an example that creates willing followers. This influence can be positive or negative, underscoring the need to lead righteously. The importance of leadership is evident in God's clear indication that the failures of Israel and Judah as nations representing Him stemmed largely from poor shepherding. In Revelation 5, Christ is shown as qualified to open the scroll due to His past accomplishments, setting an example for His followers. Verse 10 reveals that Christ has appointed His redeemed as a kingdom of priests to serve God and bear rulership responsibilities, necessitating preparation now to become leaders in His Kingdom. I Peter 2:5 and 2:9 further emphasize believers being built into a spiritual house and a royal priesthood, tasked with offering spiritual sacrifices and proclaiming God's praises, preparing under Jesus Christ for future responsibilities. Revelation 14:3-4 underscores following the Lamb as crucial for the redeemed, highlighting leadership development through following Christ. Leadership, as God desires, is not inherent but built through deliberate and consistent submission to His way, primarily by example rather than force. Jesus Christ Himself exemplified this by following the Father's doctrine before becoming the greatest leader, as seen in Luke 4:32 and John 7:14-17, where His teaching carried authority derived from submission to God. This sets a model for believers to imitate, as Paul urges in I Corinthians 1:26-29, noting that God calls not the already wise or mighty, but shapes leadership in those He chooses, remaking them into His desired image. Finally, leadership development is tied to understanding God's covenants, which provide foundational direction for His purpose. These covenants, broad in scope, require faithful adherence to unify and guide, ensuring that leadership aligns with God's will as He creates it within His children through their response to Him.