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Recipe for Victory...or Defeat? 1/31/2008 7:24:07 AM
“‘When leaders lead in Israel, when the people willingly offer themselves, bless the Lord!’
… In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 5:2; 17:6).
I’ve been studying the Book of Judges lately, and in doing so, I came across two recipes: one for success and one for failure.
The recipe for success is found in Judges 5:2, where we read the opening lines of Deborah’s victory song. Having just led the Israelites in a successful vanquishing of their enemy, Deborah declares that “when the leaders lead” and “when the people willingly offer themselves,” it is time to bless the Lord. Why? No doubt because only the Lord’s miraculous moving could effect such elements of victory.
You see, “in those days there was no king [leader] in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” That, of course, is the recipe for failure: a lack of strong, godly leadership on the part of those who should have been setting the pace and the standard for the people, and a resulting lack of submission to leadership on the part of the people. When the people lack godly leadership, they will “do their own thing,” and the results will be disastrous. When godly leaders step up to the plate and the people “willingly offer themselves” to follow, victory is assured.
In a time of history when we in America once again prepare to choose leaders for our temporary lives here on earth, this is a good principle to keep in mind: choose the recipe for success, not for failure. Even more important, however, is the need for we who are God’s people to keep this recipe in mind regarding our eternal lives. If we want victory in the spiritual realm, then strong, godly leaders must commit themselves to lead (whether or not that wins them any popularity contests!), and the people must commit themselves to follow. That, of course, means walking according to what God says is right—not what’s right in our own eyes.
Whether called to lead or to follow, spend time in God’s Word and in prayer today so that you may know what God says is right—and then walk accordingly. Victory is right around the corner!
