There are pointers one follows to gain understanding about leadership. We wonder what the secret of leadership might be. There is little secret in it, but it does become mystery for many and seems natural (inherited) for a few. This Psalm’s author was not David, but referred to David as a leader. We know that history remembers David as a gifted leader. David’s personal lapses seem not lengthy. He found repair of himself through repentance and correction. He sometimes flirted with integrity. By confessing his sins in abject humility for failure he discovered himself in duty to righteousness, and lifted both himself and the citizenry in the passing of events and time.
The factors of leadership include, among other features, style (personality), communication, energy, wisdom, activism – that cause a person to move forward to lead followers. The author of this Psalm was not concerned with the specifics usually referred to for gaining leadership. He referred to integrity and skillfulness. (He knew when and where to use it.) We leave skillfulness for another occasion. Integrity is here acknowledged as a major factor in leadership. One may lead without integrity, but he is to be treated with suspicion by insightful persons, and his followers are mesmerized by some oddity, perhaps superstition or selfish concept.
Why integrity? Because a leader must have power, an ethical power that comes from within. It is said that when, in 1865, Robert E. Lee rode to Appomattox Court House to surrender to General Ulysses Grant, that the men along the way, the soldiers, even of the north, uncovered their heads. It is reported by historians that the Confederate soldiers would, even in defeat, be pleased to die for that old man. The belief in the integrity of that old man was so impressive that it maintained the Confederate cause through impossible odds until the end. Lincoln had offered the leadership of the northern army to Lee at the beginning, but Lee turned down the offer. Lee’s belief was in State’s rights. If the State opposed the national government, he would go with Virginia. His home property (now a cemetery) was just over the river from the Federal Capitol. His integrity with his beliefs dictated his conduct. Even so, he must have felt the odds were against his side.
Humanly speaking the power that Jesus holds with Christians and society in general is found in his integrity. He refused to deny himself or his relationship with the Father. He would not defend himself with the sword in integrity with his message so that peace and reconciliation would not be compromised. Satan attempted to dissuade Jesus from his integrity. Do this and good result will follow. Jesus rejected the evil teasing. Had he succumbed to temptation, he would have violated integrity for a temporary fix. Jesus was integral with his stand.
People rightly look for integrity in leaders. The leader yearns to find his conduct and beliefs in followers. Followers may violate themselves, even violate their leader, but he will not violate his character, if from God, and he offers himself for those who will believe in him. Out of that stance emerges the genuine mission and goals that occupy true followers of this leader. The leader also chooses followers, calling upon them for the finest response they can offer to the mission. When that elevation is gained, those followers are ready to learn new or refreshed conducts, and proceed to influence others. The effectiveness of Christians is to follow the model of the leader – to be like him. One wonders what a nation, or a family, or a movement, or a company might accomplish with leaders and followers of full integrity. Faithfulness is integrity. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020