on a cloudless morning, with grass glistening from recent rains. . ."
That’s how King David describes the legacy of leaders who uses their God-given power to serve their people.
In recent days, millions of Egyptian, Tunisian and Lebanese people have clamored for new leadership. Unjust leaders breed anger and frustration and stifle hope.
Rain and sunlight are gifts of Nature that nourish the earth and brighten our lives. That’s what visionary and virtuous leaders do, too. They create vibrant communities, inspire creative participation, nourish productivity; they bring hope.
King David understood this. During his reign, Israel had endured times of famine, when natural drought converged with bad leadership decisions to create national crisis. David learned the hard way that good government is not just about shrewd politics and decisive action.
In the final song of his musical career, David cites “the fear of the Lord” as the spiritual core of good governance. See 2 Samuel 23:1-4. This is the principled beacon of those who resist the temptations of power and privilege, who refuse to be a rule unto themselves, but who understand that their authority is delegated by God.
Such leadership creates a sunlit atmosphere of justice and shalom, a bright and hopeful future. Like rain and sunlight, good leaders help others to flourish. Whether business or community leaders, pastors, teachers, parents, coaches, people who influence the lives of others can promote growth or stifle it. They create conditions that either foster or obstruct productive lives in those they lead.
Good leaders are visionary, they can see a better tomorrow and they inspire their people to imagine and contribute to a bright future. They are both decisive and compassionate. They balance justice and mercy.
David,
ReplyDeleteI am intrigued by your frequent use of the word, and the idea of, "justice" in your post today. Thirty years on, and still I wonder what people mean by that word - those who 'thirst for it', those who promise it, those who deny it, and those who are claimed to be 'good' because they "balance it with mercy".
It seems unlikely that the word means the same thing in all those contexts, for the ' justice' [read punishment] that needs to be tempered with mercy is seldom the justice [read more personally satisfying socio-economic conditions] being sought by the individuals protesting in the square, dreaming of 'a better day, a new sunrise'.
Well, yes. And lawyers keep us honest about how we can blur the meanings. Thanks for prompting me to think more about Justice.
ReplyDeleteI think my concept of justice is colored by:
■ the American notion of 'liberty and justice for all' that innate sense fairness and the desire for a just society that embodies equality and advances it, assuring fairness and freedom for everyone to become all they are capable of becoming.
■ the Greek notion of impartiality as in the blind-folded goddesss – that reminds judges that the wealthy, shrewd and powerful must not be allowed to exploit others.
■ the Hebrew idea that human justice must flow out of the ethical character of God. God is fair and impartial but not impersonal, so biblical prophets advocated more often on behalf of the poor who were commonly victims of human injustice. God’s lofty ethical justice is also tempered by mercy such that we all receive less punitive justice than we deserve – and consequently learn to cut others a similar kind of slack.