Consulting senior leaders first
1 Chronicles 13:2-3:
Notice the state by which this decision was made. First, David had clearly heard from God. Second, he consulted with the most senior leaders who were themselves commanders of thousands, these were probably his mighty men described in 2 Samuel 23: 8-39 and 1 chronicles 12: 1-40.
In the New Testament, these would be equivalent to the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers of Ephesians: 11 ministries. These commanders of thousands agreed and said, Amen, David! Right on. We’ve heard the same thing from God. Then the prophets prophesied and said, Amen, David! We just heard the same thing. Every one of the most senior leaders then agreed it was God’s will.
Envisioning all the leaders
When David went to the next level of leaders who were the captains of hundreds and 50s, it was the equivalent of what is described in the New Testament as the elders and leaders of local church congregations.
When David went to every other leader whose role was not precisely specified, it was allegorically representative of the final group that was comprised of all the other leaders with some area of responsibility in the churches. In our churches today, this would be representative of Home group leaders and deacons plus any other people with leadership responsibility. The main purpose of going to everyone of these lower level leaders was not so much to get their agreement or permission, but it was to envision them or impart the vision to them so they would be gripped by the vision as strongly as David was. They would then embrace it actively as God’s will and work with the same passion that David had. Because David took time to do this, they were also fully envisioned to see the Tabernacle raised up on Mount Zion and the arc brought back and placed inside it.
If you are the overall leader of a church congregation and you want the people you lead to catch your vision and run with it, learn these lessons from David. If your people are going to give themselves to zealous passion, they have to see the vision and own it as much as you do.
Finally, motivating all God’s people
David would then go to all the people of Israel. David had heard from God concerning his will. Nevertheless, he knew the people of God couldn’t jump enthusiastically into the purpose of God until they had seen it for themselves. He was not waiting for their permission to do it, but he was waiting for them to catch the same revelation he had, so they would be in faith with him concerning the vision. When they had seen it too, it would become their vision as well as his. Then they would work zealously with him and give and sacrifice to make it happen.
If a leader comes to the people with an isolated, dictatorial attitude saying God has given me this vision, and I expect everyone of you to be fully committed to it, he will not get the response he’s looking for. You may have heard from God, but they have not. They cannot be in faith for something they have not seen or heard. If you give God the opportunity to bring your people to the same faith level as you, then you will lead them easily because they will be enthusiastic and faith filled.
In John 10: 1-18, Jesus said he was the Good Shepherd. He then carefully spelled out what that meant. He is the only door, and any legitimate minister has to come to the sheep through him and be under his authority. Otherwise, there are thieves and robbers, even if they call themselves apostles or prophets.
Jesus made it clear that he loved his sheep and was to lay down his life for them. He said, my sheep hear my voice and they know me and voluntarily follow me John: 27.
In that sense David was a true shepherd of God’s people, so eventually all the people said to David, Amen! We’re with you! It was then easy to lead them because they loved him, followed him, and now owned the same vision, as it says in 1 Chronicles 13: 4-and all the assembly said that they would do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.