One might well be described as a pampered, spoiled brat and
the other as one neglected and held in little esteem. Both became strong
leaders, indeed rulers. One was elevated to a position of highest authority in
a foreign land, the other became the king of his native country. Joseph and
David are two of the most revered leaders in the Bible. They share much in
common and numerous differences as well.
This week’s blog will lay the lives of these two great leaders side by
side comparing and contrasting their individual characters and leadership
styles. Approximately 700 years of history separate Joseph and David (Joseph
c.1700 BC, David c.1000 BC) (Alexander 30-32), but both their stories begin
with their boyhoods.
Joseph was born to Jacob’s first love and second wife
Rachel. Jacob unwisely and overtly demonstrated that Joseph was the favorite
son of the favorite wife, showing him preferential treatment and giving him the
infamous long coat of many colors. This created animosity and jealousy among
Joseph’s ten older half-brothers. His full brother Benjamin was born later. Joseph
is first seen in the scriptures, after his birth, as a tattle-tale running home
with a bad report of his brothers (Genesis 37:2).
David was the youngest and considered the slightest of the
sons of a man of Bethlehem
named Jesse. When the prophet Samuel, under the Lord’s instructions, came to
Jesse’s home to anoint a new king of Israel , David wasn’t even
considered. Instead he was given the lowly job of tending the sheep out in the
fields. As Samuel gazed at each of Jesse’s seven noble son’s he was surprised
that the Lord’s answer was “no” to each one. The Lord told Samuel not to look
at appearance. “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the
heart” (NIV Bible, 1 Samuel 16:7). In
1 Samuel 16:10-12 we read, “Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but
Samuel said to him, ‘The LORD has not chosen these.’ So he asked Jesse, ‘Are
these all the sons you have?’ ‘There is still the youngest,’ Jesse answered,
‘but he is tending the sheep.’ Samuel
said, ‘Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.’ So he sent and had
him brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features. Then
the LORD said, ‘Rise and anoint him; he is the one’” (NIV Bible).
So begin the sagas of Joseph’s and David’s lives. Also
noteworthy is the devotion and closeness each of them developed for the Lord at
an early age. Joseph was a dreamer. He had vivid dreams which he understood
were meaningful communiqués from the Lord. Thus began a lifetime of close
communion with God. David was a worshipper. No doubt, on the quiet nights and
days spent tending sheep out in the fields he sang and worshipped and played
his lyre, also developing a lifetime habit of close communion with his Lord. Perhaps
it was here, as a shepherd watching over his sheep, that David got a glimpse of
the Great Shepherd watching over him. It is easy to imagine David alone with
the sheep, singing, worshipping and praising God…
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall
not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the
still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness
for His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of
death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they
comfort me” (NKJV Bible, Psalm
23:1-4).
The next pivotal events in their separate journeys from boys
to men, find David and Joseph taking significantly different paths:
Joseph is sold into slavery by his jealous brothers and
taken to Egypt .
J. Lawrence Eason observes, “Joseph was smarter than his brothers. And because
they recognized his superiority, they were jealous of him. Jacob also had
recognized the superiority of his son Joseph, and doubtless had given him the
long coat to symbolize, appropriately, a person who would one day achieve
distinction” (84). Don Howell comments, “Joseph’s life shifts from favored son
in the land of promise to destitute slave in a foreign land. The focus of the
unfolding narrative will be not on Joseph’s inner struggles, but on his
stunning rise to prominence, despite repeated setbacks, according to the
unconquerable divine plan” (22).
David is next seen becoming the champion of Israel when he
stands up to fight and slay Goliath.
Everyone knows the story. David, though small in stature, wearing no
armor and bearing no sword, defeats the giant with only a sling shot. Goliath
was angered at David’s youthful appearance and lack of armor. “He said to
David, ‘Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?’ And the Philistine cursed
David by his gods” (NIV Bible, 1 Samuel
17:43). Of greatest significance in this episode, however, was David’s faith in
God. He answered Goliath and the entire Philistine army saying, “You come
against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name
of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel , whom you have defied. This
day the LORD will hand you over to me… All those gathered here will know that
it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's,
and he will give all of you into our hands” (NIV Bible, 1 Samuel 17:45-47). Of this turning point in David’s
life, Duvall and Hays comment, “During this episode, David, in essence,
switches flocks. He changes from watching his father’s sheep to watching over
God’s sheep, the nation of Israel .
He accepts the responsibility for this regardless of the danger” (317).
Thus we see in these two young men tremendous strength of
character and humility. Joseph, though a slave, conducted himself always with
integrity and unwavering faith in the God of his father, Israel . Joseph’s rise to favor in
the household of Potiphar was quickly dashed by the false accusations of
Potiphar’s seductive wife whose advances Joseph refused. Of Joseph’s humility
and trust in God when he was falsely accused of Potiphar’s wife, Josephus
writes, “Now Joseph, commending all his affairs to God, did not betake himself
to make his defense, nor to give an account of the exact circumstances of the
fact, but silently underwent the bonds and the distress he was in, firmly
believing that God, who knew the cause of his affliction and the truth of the
fact, would be more powerful than those that inflicted the punishment upon him”
(66). Likewise, due to the jealousy of king Saul over David’s fame as a mighty
warrior, David was soon fleeing for his life. Though pursued by Saul, whose
intent was to kill him, David refused to raise his hand against Saul even when
given the opportunity. Eason writes, “David on two different occasions, had the
opportunity to slay his mortal enemy, Saul; but in each case he had mercy on
Saul, leaving his punishment to the Lord” (138).
We see, in the process of each of their lives, that the boys
of integrity and faith become men—leaders called by God. Joseph becomes a ruler
in the land of Egypt Israel .
How did they lead? Who were their followers, and how did they get followers to
follow them? What were their leadership styles and approaches?
Joseph was an administrator. He was “considered by the
ancient Israelites to be the ideal for all administrators or figures of
authority” (Gardner
243). He was thoughtful and well organized.
The fact that he was a dreamer and one who could interpret dreams is
another indication of his contemplative nature. He was a man with a plan when
the Pharaoh and the people of Egypt
needed a plan. When a leader knows the direction, others will follow.
David appears in many roles. He was a “shepherd, warrior,
musician, outlaw, faithful friend, empire builder, sinner, saint, failed
father, ideal king” (Gardner
72). David’s name appears more than 1000 times in the Bible, more than any
other. “He has a prominent place not only in the political and military history
of his people but also in their theology and poetry and even in their hopes for
the future” (Gardner
72). David was a great leader because he was courageous, fearless and
confident. He was willing to act when others were fearful. He was a motivator
who saw a need, urged others to action and took the forefront to lead the way. When
a leader is passionate and sure, people will follow. David, as such, seems to
be far less thoughtful than Joseph and much more spontaneous.
It is here, looking at their differing leadership styles,
that we see the greatest contrast between David and Joseph. Joseph was patient
and methodical. He led the Egyptians to systematically store their provisions
for years and then, in time of famine, to systematically dispense those
provisions for years. When faced with temptation, the thoughtful Joseph weighed
the consequences of his actions and maintained his integrity and his virtue. David,
on the other hand, was brash and spontaneous. Battles move along much more
quickly than grain grows on the stalk season after season. As a commander,
David had to make decisions quickly and on the move. With this nature and
leadership style it is easier to see how David, when faced with temptation, may
have acted on impulse and without forethought when summoning beautiful, bathing
Bathsheba to his chamber. However, with the same intensity he brought to
battle, he fervently repented when brought to the realization of his sin. Hear
his heart of repentance...
“Have mercy on me, O God, according
to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity and
cleanse me from my sin” (NIV Bible,
Psalm 51:1-2).
“Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your
salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me”
(NIV Bible, Psalm 51:10-12).
It was David’s heart coupled with his courage that made him
a great leader. This is what God saw in the little shepherd boy whom He
instructed Samuel to anoint as king. “Man looks at the outward appearance, but
the LORD looks at the heart” (NIV Bible, 1
Samuel 16:7).
As a servant leader in ministry today, I would do well to
bring a blend of David and Joseph into my leadership style. With these
strengths and virtues as my guide, my call to ministry will be as the
commission of a ship’s pilot. My Captain will select the course and I will call
passengers (followers) aboard. I will pilot God’s ship boldly and steadfastly:
At the Captain’s command set sail.
To the course He directs never
fail.
At His order be no hesitation.
Fix the bow toward the destination.
Into the storm, into the fray,
Fearlessly steer the ship on its
way.
With steady hand to the way hold
fast.
Steer the ship from the start to
the last. -AP
As admonished in Deuteronomy 5:32, “Be careful to do what
the LORD your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the
left” (NIV Bible). As encouraged in
Hebrews 12:1, “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (NIV Bible). And as taught by Jesus, may
my heart remain pure through it all. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they
will see God” (NIV Bible, Matthew 5:8).
Godly leaders are followers of God Himself and will not act
except by His command. They will be dreamers who dream big and cast clear
vision for others to see and follow. They will courageously take risks and lead
boldly and fearlessly, inspiring followers to join them in pursuit of the godly
vision. The integrity and vision of Joseph blended with the courage and heart
of David—what a powerful combination!
______________________
Works Cited
Alexander, David and Pat,
Editors. Eerdmans’ Concise Bible
Handbook.
Eason, J. Lawrence. The New
Bible Survey.
Howell, Don N. Jr. Servants of the Servant, A Biblical Theology of
Leadership.
Duvall, J. Scott and Hays,
J. Daniel. Grasping God’s Word—Second Edition.
Josephus, translated by
Whiston, William. Josephus, The Complete Works.
Gardner, Joseph L.,
Editorial Director. Who’s Who in the Bible.
Pleasantville: The Reader’s Digest Association, 1994
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