The story of how David became King of Israel can be found in the sixteenth chapter of 1 Samuel.
God, as the story goes, found Saul to no longer be worthy of leading the people of Israel and had chosen David, a humble shepherd, instead.
This is the passage from the Old Testament that contains the well-known and oft-quoted verse:
“The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
From 1 Samuel 16:7
We can all be happy that we no longer have Kings who wield unfettered power over the people. But it is nevertheless true that in order for a leader to be effective, they must be worthy of leading, they must not merely have a surplus of political ambition or a lust for power.
They must care about the people they’re entrusted to lead and do so impartially, with the well-being of every citizen in mind and with an eye towards the common good.
David, for all his faults, was such a man.
Today, no one is surprised when our so-called leaders put on full display their pettiness, naked ambition and disdain for the citizens they’re supposed to be leading.
It’s no surprise at all.
And it’s time to chose leaders who, like David, care more about the people whose lives and livelihoods are entrusted to their care than the results of their next campaign for re-election.
Brother Ben
© 2019 The Fellowship of St Francis, Inc.
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