From Shepherd to Ruler: Leadership Lessons Inspired by David

By Vinnie Venturella

David is one of the most perfect characters on which to do a study of leadership. We can learn a lot from David’s life. We can learn what to do and what not to do. I think both are important. No one is perfect and learning those tough lessons on someone else’s behalf is as important as learning the more positive ones. David was God’s anointed. He started as a shepherd and through God’s leadership, he became a ruler of a nation and a shepherd over His people. David did not set out to be Israel’s king. He did not set out to ‘be a leader.’ He was thrust into circumstances not of his making. He went through his own crucible time and time again. Through each experience he put more tools in his toolbox so to speak. Although not perfect by any measure, his zeal for God and faith in God became the standard that all future kings of Israel would be measured against. We can learn a lot from current and prior leaders, regardless of where we find them. Like the cook making a stew, you choose which ingredients and how much to use, and learn what works and what doesn’t work for you along the way as you perfect your recipe.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Feb 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9781665550697

Vinnie Venturella

This is Vinnie’s seventeenth book. Vinnie and his wife Tammie have two daughters, Meaghan and Sophia. They live in Texas. Vinnie was born in Pittsburgh, PA. His Mom Joyce and Dad Frank were a big influence on him, and he has a twin brother, Frank and younger sister, Jill. He graduated Woodsville High School in NH. He has a Bachelor’s in Accounting from Campbell University, NC; and an MBA from Southern New Hampshire University. Vinnie retired as a Chief Master Sergeant from the Air Force after 21+ years as a Combat Controller in Air Force Special Operations. Vinnie works in the Personal Finance industry. He has a passion for reading, writing, and physical fitness.

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© 2022 Vinnie Venturella. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 01/29/2022

ISBN: 978-1-6655-5070-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6655-5069-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022902064

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CONTENTS

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Foreword

Introduction

Learn from Other Leaders Before and Around You

Say No Even if the Whole World is Saying Yes

Be Cognizant of God’s Leadership

Portray a Leadership Stature

Leaders Will Have to Prove Themselves

Leaders Stay on Message

Leaders Follow the Rules

Create an Environment where Boldness Reigns

Don’t Make Stupid Commands

Leaders Set the Example

Leaders Are Accountable

As a Leader, It Doesn’t Matter Where You Start

Bring Your Best at All Times

Leaders Bring a Different Perspective

Leaders Show Courage

Leaders Use the Right Tools for the Situation

Leaders Use the Right Tactics for the Situation

Leaders Should Inspire Others

Beware of Jealousy in Others

Leaders Exceed Expectations Regardless of Situation

Leaders Must Have Allies

Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely

Don’t Go Down the Lying Route – It’s Endless

Leaders are Dignified

True Leaders Gain Willing Followers

Leaders Seek God’s Direction

Leaders Remain Loyal to Those Above Them

Leaders Are Never Too Big to Heed Good Advice

Actions Speak Louder Than Words

Beware of Negative Self-Talk

When You’re in a Hole Stop Digging

Feedback May Come from Unexpected Places

Leaders Do the Right Thing in All Things

Following a Shocking or Sudden End

Be Better not Bitter

It’s the Journey not the Destination

Don’t Send Mixed Signals

Don’t Consent to Do Evil That Good May Come

Do We Ever Really Arrive?

Beware Right Things Done the Wrong Way

Live Up to Your Potential

Take Advantage of Momentum

Leaders Show Unconditional Kindness

Leaders Need Good Advice

The Snowball Effect

Leaders Must Own Their Actions

Leaders Must Hold Their People Accountable

Ignoring Issues Won’t Make Them Better

You Reap What You Sow

Leaders May Be Attacked

Leaders Need Their Lt. Rowan

Leaders Need to be All In

Put Your People Over Self-Interest

Take the High Road

Leadership is About Influence

True Leaders Praise, Honor and Thank God

Leaders Need Mighty Men and Women

Leaders Should Pay Full Price

Leaders Leave a Legacy

Conclusion

DEDICATION

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This book is dedicated to my mother Joyce.

I love you.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

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I appreciate the assistance that Connie Freriks provided me in editing this project. She is always gracious with her time and diligent with her efforts. She’s a wonderful lady, a lifelong Christian, and a teacher of the Word. I cherish our friendship.

I also want to thank Connie’s son Rex. We’ve been great friends for over three decades, a confidant, and a constant encouragement to me. He provided me a resource that was invaluable to my study of David.

FOREWORD

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This book is about the leadership lessons I have gleaned from David’s activities in the bible – the good lessons as well as the not so good ones. I do not attempt to provide a biblical commentary, nor a bible study of God’s Word. I also do not comment about the many references to Jesus that many commentators make when it comes to David, what he was doing, and the correlation to Jesus and Christians. Although, I fully acknowledge they’re there, I do not attempt to call them out or teach them. This is a book about leadership, using David and those around David. I start in 1 Samuel 1, before David was on the scene, because I wanted to show the history and context of the environment before David entered it. The lessons may appear secular, but that does not mean the reader won’t get a lot out of them if they open their mind. All of my scriptural references use the New International Version (NIV).

Because I have a ‘regular’ job, I am bound by a very strict code of ethics and I have rules I must follow to be compliant with any conflicts of interest in my writing which is an outside business activity. As such, you’ll see me NOT reference people by name or reference very specific details about the examples I use in the leadership lessons. The lesson can still be gleaned, while at the same time allow me to exceed my employer’s expectations.

I hope you enjoy this, get a lot out of it, and put into practice those lessons deemed worthy and avoid those that aren’t.

INTRODUCTION

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David was a man after God’s own Heart (1 Sam 13:14; Act 13:22). What does that mean? It means David’s life was in harmony with God’s. It means he was in sync with God. And it means that David had given his heart completely to God. David loved God and was the benchmark for all other kings of Israel. No other king measured up to David’s level of love, honor and reverence for God. We can learn a lot from David’s life. We can learn what to do and what not to do. I think both are important. No one is perfect and learning those tough lessons on someone else’s behalf is as important as learning the more positive ones. David was God’s anointed. He started as a shepherd and, through God’s leadership, he became a ruler of a nation and a shepherd over His people.

Leadership is a lot of things. It can simply be described as ‘influence’ and can be as complex as leading a nation or multi-national organization. I love the study of leadership, have been doing it my whole adult life, and will continue my entire life. Teams, organizations, and large institutions rise and fall with leadership. Some leaders do not set out ‘to be a leader.’ Others proactively seek out leadership opportunities. Like anything else, there are successful leaders and those that are not as effective. And there are those that do irreparable damage and should be removed as fast as possible.

There are many analogies of leadership. A simple one can be a stew. Many cooks make ‘great’ stews. But they are all different. One isn’t necessarily better than the other, but just different. The ingredients in leadership, like a stew, may be many and varied, but success is not necessarily measured based on the ingredients. It’s the leader (cook) that given the environment, ingredients, and their own skills, knowledge, and abilities that determines the ‘success’ of the leader or the success of their leadership.

Leaders don’t grow in a day, but day-by-day. It’s a journey. Where they start is not necessarily where they finish. Leaders by definition move forward and upward and influence (through various means) those individuals, teams, organizations, institutions and nations to willingly follow them.

All leaders develop over time, some more than others. Through experience, good and bad, effective, and not so effective, leaders will gain more and more skills, knowledge, and abilities. There is a process (not prescriptive) that leaders go through that I liken to a few things. One is the crucible. A crucible is used with very high heat and allows a metal (gold or silver for example) to have the impurities burned off leaving the pure metal. When a leader is going through this, they are better for the experience, but during the heat or testing it may not seem that way. But only through the heat can they get better. Another is a pharmacist’s or cook’s mortar and pestle. Using these, they will combine different ingredients and crush, grind and mix them together into a fine powder or until the preferred texture is achieved. This crushing, grinding, and mixing again develops the leader. And one of my favorite analogies is that of how diamonds are formed. Within the earth’s crust, under massive pressure, massive heat and after a lot of time, what started out as pure carbon becomes a diamond. Again, a leader develops under heat, pressure, and time. In all three analogies there is a testing, there are challenges, there is heat, there is pressure, perhaps some physical and mental pain, but the end result is ‘better’ than what started the process. This is how leaders develop – day-by-day.

David is one of the most prominent individuals in both the Old and New Testaments. David was from the tribe of Judah. He was from Bethlehem. He was Ruth and Boaz’s great grandson. He had seven brothers or was the youngest of seven sons of Jesse (1 Sam 16:10 & 1 Chr 2:15 respectively). He was a shepherd. He was a giant slayer. He was a great warrior. He was a musician. He was a psalmist. He was God’s anointed one.

David did not set out to be Israel’s king. He did not set out to ‘be a leader.’ He was thrust into circumstances not of his making. He went through his own crucible time and time again. Through each experience he put more tools in his toolbox so to speak. He untied a nation which was a disparate group of factions. He established Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and God’s earthly headquarters (if you will). Although not perfect by any measure, his zeal for God and faith in God became the standard that all future kings of Israel would be measured against.

We can learn a lot from current and prior leaders, regardless of where we find them. Like the cook making a stew, you choose which ingredients and how much to use, and learn what works and what doesn’t work for you along the way as you perfect your recipe.

LEARN FROM OTHER LEADERS

BEFORE AND AROUND YOU

(1 Sam 1:1 – 7:17)

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1 Samuel opens with the story of Hannah, the wife of Elkanah who was barren and prayed and prayed for a son. Despite the long time and her many challenges God heard her prayers and allowed her to conceive. That first born son was Samuel. As was Israel’s custom, Hannah dedicated Samuel to the Lord, and he was brought up in the service to the Lord, under the mentorship of Eli the priest. Eli’s sons were wicked men (1 Sam 2:12). Samuel grew in reputation with God and with men (1 Sam 2:26). A man of God came and prophesied against Eli and his sons and mentioned the sons would be killed on the same day. Samuel was called by God and told by the Lord the things that would happen to Eli and his sons. He in turn told Eli when asked by him. Samuel continued to grow in stature (1 Sam 3:20).

The Israelites went to war against the Philistines. Initially the Philistines had success against the Israelites. The Israelites decided to bring the ark of God in hopes its presence would help them defeat the Philistines. The Philistines instead defeated the Israelites. They lost thirty-thousand soldiers (1 Sam 4:10). The ark was captured and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phineas were killed. A man ran from the battle to Shiloh to tell Eli the ark had been captured and that his two sons had been killed. When Eli heard that, he fell backward in the chair he was sitting in and died having broken his neck. Eli led Israel for forty years (1 Sam 4:18).

After the Philistines captured the ark of God, they took it to Ashdod and put it in the temple of their god Dagon. The next day, the people found Dagon had fallen on its face before the ark of God. They put Dagon back up and the next day the people found it fallen and now its head and hands had broken off. The Lord brought calamity upon Ashdod so it was decided to move the ark of God to Gath. The Lord threw them into a great panic, caused an outbreak of tumors and then the Gath people sent the ark of God to Ekron. Again, God afflicted them so that many died and those that did not had tumors.

After all the death and destruction, the Philistines finally got the message and asked their priests how they should send back the ark to the Israelites. They came up with the plan to send a guilt offering of five gold tumors and five gold rats along with a specific way to send the ark back on a new wooden cart with two cows. The two cows went straight back to the Israelites at Beth Shemesh. Once there, the Israelites chopped up the wood of the cart and sacrificed the two cows to the Lord. On that day, some had some irreverent curiosity and looked inside the ark. This brought instant judgement from God and He put seventy of them to death. The people of Beth Shemesh asked the people of Kiriath Jearim to take the ark and keep it with them. It stayed there for twenty years (1 Sam 7:2).

The Israelites mourned and then sought after God. Samuel asked them if they were in fact returning to God with all their hearts? He commanded them that they needed to rid themselves of all their foreign gods, and the Ashtoreths and Baals, and to commit to God and only serve Him and then He will deliver them from the Philistines. They assembled at Mizpah and Samuel interceded for them. Ironically, the Philistines heard of the assembly and went to attack the Israelites. The Lord thundered loudly against the Philistines (1 Sam 7:10) and they were defeated. The Lord’s hand was against the Philistines throughout Samuel’s lifetime. Samuel was Israel’s judge his entire life.

The Leadership Lesson Further Articulated

We should all take advantage of learning from others. This applies to the things we should incorporate into our own leadership repertoire and those things we should avoid. There are only so many things we can personally experience, and we should also maximize the experience of others. We should incorporate those best practices that we know work regardless of environment and be cognizant of those things to not do, because we know they do not work.

I assume David knew a lot about Eli and Samuel. He knew what good they did and he knew areas where improvements could have been made. None of us will be forever immortalized in the Bible that our kids were wicked like Eli’s were. Samuel obviously kept God first in his life and went to Him for guidance. He appeared to judge fairly and he appeared to bring some hard coaching when necessary. David had problems with his family and he had times of being a God-first leader.

I had a boss that shall we say was asked to leave their role by our big boss. My boss was a good person, a Christian, but honestly not cut out for the role. I stayed loyal to them but there was obvious friction as time went on. On their last day, as I was getting ready to leave for the day, I went to their desk to shake their hand and wish them luck. It told me everything I needed to know that they did not stand up but stayed seated as they shook my hand. I immediately said, I learned a lot from you, good luck. Now on its face that statement was one hundred percent true and most people, I would surmise, assume I meant I learned a lot of positive things from them. On the contrary: when I said ‘I learned a lot from you,’ I meant all the things that one should not do. Whether they caught that or not was not my concern. Having the experiences of others is critical and knowing what not to do is as important as knowing what to do. Learn from other leaders that came before you or are around you.

SAY NO EVEN IF THE WHOLE

WORLD IS SAYING YES

(1 Sam 8:1 – 22)

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As Samuel got older, he appointed his two sons as judges over Israel. As fate would have it, Samuel’s two sons were not good men. So, it says that the elders of Israel used this (some say as an excuse) along with Samuel’s age to ask for a king to lead them. These elders, like many of us at many times, missed God’s master plan. They wanted to be like the other nations (1 Sam 8:5). This upset Samuel and he prayed to God about it. God’s masterful response was to reiterate the sinfulness of the Israelites since He brought them out of Egypt until this moment. I estimate that to be about 400 years. He gave examples of their sinfulness and then here was the kicker: God reminded Samuel that the Israelites did not reject Samuel but rejected God as their King (1 Sam 8:7).

God’s message to Samuel was for Samuel to remind the Israelites what they were asking for (a human king instead of the King of kings) and what a king would in turn require of the people. Samuel then verbalized all the things a king would require (1 Sam 8:11 – 18). Samuel delivered God’s words and how did the Israelites respond? They responded no and demanded a king and threw in that they will be like all the other nations and the king will go out and fight their battles for them. They obviously didn’t get that they didn’t get it by not relying on God as their King. Samuel relayed the Israelites’ response to God and God told Samuel to give them a king.

The Leadership Lesson Further Articulated

Despite all of Israel’s elders (1 Sam 8:4) requesting a king, scripture seems silent on if anyone else aside from Samuel sided with God. I may be wrong, but I assume Samuel stood alone. Verse 4 does say all, however. This act by all of Israel’s elders upset Samuel because he knew this was not the plan. He prayed to God on this issue and mediated on behalf of God. And despite God’s word, logic, and some prophetic insights, the elders wanted a human king anyway. Samuel stood his ground and even