Valley of Elah: Five Smooth Stones of Leadership

By Dr. Ron Jones

Travel through the western edge of the Judah low hills and nothing spectacular catches your eye beyond the beautiful green landscape. Is it a lovely place for a Sunday afternoon drive? Absolutely. However, 3,000 years ago a humble, ruddy shepherd boy used a sling and one of five smooth stones he carried into battle to slay a giant there.

 

Humanly speaking, David, the youngest son of Jesse, was an unlikely warrior and king. Even the prophet Samuel passed over him in favor of David’s more outwardly impressive brothers. “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). What God saw in David was a man after His own heart, despite his notorious foibles (Acts 13:22).

 

Psalm 78:72 summarizes King David’s influential leadership over the nation known as God’s chosen people. “So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart,and guided them with his skillful hands.” Character (“integrity of heart”) and competence (“skillful hands”) are two of the five smooth stones of leadership. 

 

Over the years, I have also looked for calling, capacity, and creativity in the members of my team. Are you a called or driven person? Is ministry more than just your chosen career? Do you have the capacity to get the big job done, even multiple tasks at the same time? Can you think and act outside the box?

 

King David possessed integrity of heart and skillful hands, at least two (and probably more) of the five smooth stones of leadership. What about you and the people on your team?

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