Old Testament Leadership Principle
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2 Kings Leadership Principle: Good leadership can turn failing organizations around and cause them to survive through tough times and become successful. Key Scripture: 2 Kings 18: 7, “And the Lord was with him; and he prospered withersoever he went forth: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not.” Explanation/Illustration of the Principle Hezekiah was a Godly king of Judah (727-698 B.C.) who succeeded his father Ahaz. It was only by the grace of God that he was a righteous man because his father followed in the tradition of the prior evil kings (2 Ki. 16:2). However, the Lord rose up Hezekiah to be a Godly king after the order of King David. There were many evil kings over the previous centuries in Judah and the Lord was displeased with Judah. Assyria had continually been more powerful than Judah and the former Kings of Judah were more interested in pleasing the Assyrian Kings than pleasing the Lord. Under Hezekiah’s reign, Hezekiah worshipped the Lord and followed in all His ways. God blessed Judah because of this. Even when Judah was no match for Assyria especially under King Sennacherib (2 Ki. 18:13), the Lord fought Judah’s battle and the angel of the killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in one night (Ki. 19:34-35). Because Hezekiah followed the ways of the Lord, God took a nation that was weak in power and idolatrous and they were blessed and protected. Even these days in our economic climate, the Lord can prosper a company and prosper a family despite the negative effects of the economy. Even with others doing evil personally and professionally (corporations), the Lord will sustain and bless his leaders and their followers.