At last David is King and is ready to lead for the glory of God! One of his first acts as king was to bring the ark of God to Jerusalem, symbolizing his desire to have God’s presence at the center of his leadership. But as they danced and celebrated the journey of the ark towards Jerusalem, the oxen guiding the cart stumbled. Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the ark and was instantly killed by God! David responds with anger and fear, cancels the journey, and heads home. It was a painful experience, but David was able to turn his mistake into success and in the process teach servant leaders how to do the same. (Read the full story in 2 Samuel 6).

Success requires obedience.

We have no reason to doubt that David’s intentions were good, but either knowingly or in ignorance God’s clear instructions were not obeyed. They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart with the ark of God on it… (2 Samuel 6:3-4). The priests were commanded to carry the on their shoulders, not in a cart. Uzzah was a Levite, but only the Kohathites were permitted to carry the ark (See Numbers 4:15 and 7:9). The death of Uzzah seems extreme to those of us who are accustomed to grace. Uzzah had been keeping the ark at home and perhaps found it familiar and common but God’s presence cannot be taken for granted. All leaders have a tendency to at first accept God’s mantle of leadership with humility and awe but gradually take it as their right and assume that we can take shortcuts to success. But while intentions matter greatly, success requires obedience. God was not willing to lower His standards to the level of David’s actions, no matter what his intent. The ends do not justify the means! All leaders are tempted to take shortcuts to accomplish the vision believing that God’s blessing will follow. David reminds us that servant leaders humbly acknowledge that success comes only through obedience.

Success results from persistence.

David was devastated by the death of Uzzah and immediately stopped his plan to move the ark to Jerusalem. But after three months, he tried again. So David went to bring up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing (2Samuel 6:12). David didn’t allow his initial failure to keep him from trying again. If his mistake was because of ignorance, he took time to find out the truth. If he knew, but did not obey the first time, now he was ready to obey. In either case, he learned from his mistake and did not allow a failure to keep him from moving forward. Some leaders repeat their mistakes, making no changes. Some stop and allow the fear of failure to keep them from moving forward. Servant leaders learn from their mistakes, make the necessary corrections, and with God’s grace try again.

Success releases blessing.

When David succeeded, he turned his victory into blessing for those he served, his nation, and his family. After he had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord Almighty… David returned home to bless his household (2 Samuel 6:18, 20). Servant leaders recognize that God’s blessing is not for themselves, but for others. When you succeed and experience God’s blessing, use your success to bless others!

Servant leaders are not free from mistakes, but like David, they turn their mistakes into successes. When at first you don’t succeed, try, try again!

For further reflection and discussion:

• Each of us are tempted to take for granted our leadership position and assume that we can get by with shortcuts instead of complete obedience. In what area of your own life and leadership are you tempted in this way? (Consider the following examples: Relying on your own capacity to lead without hearing from God, making exceptions to rules for yourself, or allowing small compromises in moral issues.)
• In what situation are you tempted to allow the ends (your goal and vision) to justify the means (the steps you take to accomplish the vision)?
• Think of a significant leadership mistake you made. What happened and how did you respond? Did you keep moving forward in the same direction, stop in fear, or make corrections and try again? What could you have done differently?
• In what way has God blessed you as a leader? How do you consciously seek to pass that blessing on to those you lead?