Quotes About Leadership

So Saul, accompanied by three thousand chosen men of Israel, went down to the Wilderness of Ziph to search for David there.

Saul camped beside the road at the hill of Hachilah opposite Jeshimon, but David was living in the wilderness. When he realized that Saul had followed him there,

David sent out spies to verify that Saul had arrived.

Then David set out and went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw the place where Saul and Abner son of Ner, the general of his army, had lain down. Saul was lying inside the inner circle of the camp, with the troops camped around him.

And David asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joabís brother, “Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?” “I will go with you,” answered Abishai.

But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can lift a hand against the LORDís anointed and be guiltless?”

Then David crossed to the other side and stood atop the mountain at a distance; there was a wide gulf between them.

And David shouted to the troops and to Abner son of Ner, “Will you not answer me, Abner?” “Who calls to the king?” Abner replied.

So David said to Abner, “You are a man, arenít you? And who in Israel is your equal? Why then did you not protect your lord the king when one of the people came to destroy him?

This thing you have done is not good. As surely as the LORD lives, all of you deserve to die, since you did not protect your lord, the LORDís anointed. Now look around. Where are the kingís spear and water jug that were by his head?”

“Here is the kingís spear,” David answered. “Let one of the young men come over and get it.

Saul said to him, “May you be blessed, David my son. You will accomplish great things and will surely prevail.” So David went on his way, and Saul returned home.

So David set out with his six hundred men and went to Achish son of Maoch, the king of Gath.

David and his men settled in Gath with Achish. Each man had his family with him, and David had his two wives: Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail of Carmel, the widow of Nabal.

Whenever David attacked a territory, he did not leave a man or woman alive, but he took the flocks and herds, the donkeys, camels, and clothing. Then he would return to Achish,

who would ask him, “What have you raided today?” And David would reply, “The Negev of Judah,” or “The Negev of Jerahmeel,” or “The Negev of the Kenites.”

David replied, “Then you will come to know what your servant can do.” “Very well,” said Achish. “I will make you my bodyguard for life.”

The Philistines came together and camped at Shunem, while Saul gathered all Israel and camped at Gilboa.

When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid and trembled violently.

As the Philistine leaders marched out their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men marched behind them with Achish.

Then the commanders of the Philistines asked, “What about these Hebrews?” Achish replied, “Is this not David, the servant of King Saul of Israel? He has been with me all these days, even years, and from the day he defected until today I have found no fault in him.”

Is this not the David about whom they sing in their dances: ëSaul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousandsí?”

So Achish summoned David and told him, “As surely as the LORD lives, you have been upright in my sight, and it seems right that you should march in and out with me in the army, because I have found no fault in you from the day you came to me until this day. But you have no favor in the sight of the leaders.

Therefore turn back now and go in peace, so that you will not do anything to displease the leaders of the Philistines.”