Wednesday, April 20
Battle-worthy “berserker” leadership
Scripture: Judges 5-6, 1 Corinthians 7
Judges 5:2
2 When the leaders lead in Israel,
when the people volunteer,
blessed be the Lord.
Observation
Deborah and Barak led Israel in battle against the Canaanites who had oppressed them for 20 years. The Lord spoke to Deborah who was a prophet and a judge (leader); she called Barak and charged him to take up the fight and free Israel. He would only do it if she went along. She did and with the Lord’s help, they won the battle and were free. Chapter 5 is their song of victory and it begins with verse 2.
When the leaders lead and the people volunteer, anything is possible—praise the Lord!
The first phrase is very obscure in Hebrew. Literally, it means “when the locks of hair are loose.” That may refer to the practice of soldiers letting their hair down for battle as a sign of passion. One commentator writes:
“Its usages, such as “release from restraints,” “releasing hair (in a disheveled manner),” or “taking the lead,” likely all participate in a common set of ideas rooted in either charismatic leadership or a battle-worthy “berserker” spirit. Thus, the NLT’s rendering is tame; it misses the sense of something being turned loose, of hair let down, of restraints thrown off as leaders passionately embraced their task.” (Stone, L. G. (2012). Judges. In P. W. Comfort (Ed.), Cornerstone Biblical Commentary: Joshua, Judges, Ruth (p. 261). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.)
I like that picture of the leaders letting their hair down in “a battle-worthy berserker spirit,” and “of restraints thrown off as leaders passionately embraced their task.” Leaders, go all in!
Application
If we are to change the world, God’s church needs leaders to lead and people to volunteer. And in particular, we need leaders who will lead with conviction, passion, and a “battle-worthy berserker spirit”! Now is not the time to play it safe!
Deborah and Barak were outnumbered and out-supplied; the enemy had 900 iron chariots, and as far as we know, Israel had none. But they had the Lord! And the Lord threw all of Sisera’s troops into a panic and they fled before Israel. Deborah and Barak led boldly because the Lord was with them.
Christian leaders: the Lord is with you, so lead boldly, passionately. Don’t play it safe! And God’s people need to be willing to volunteer. Step up! It’s how the battle is won.
Prayer: Lord, give me that “battle-worthy berserker spirit” and help me to lead with conviction, clarity, passion and boldness. I pray that same thing for Christian leaders everywhere. And I pray that God’s people would join the battle. When the leaders lead and the people volunteer, praise the Lord!