A study of Deuteronomy 17: 14 - 20

Moses’ life was that of a God’s follower He took instructions from God and told

the people He knew God and what He wanted for His

people Moses, after having worked with God,

knew and understood God’s will for His people

Moses know the kind of leader God wants for His people

God was the true King of His people Jesus was the Prince, the Heir of His Father God was a democratic leader, He never

impose His will over them. He ruled over the people with equity and

freedom was the foundation of His reign Israel was to find someone with the

character of God. Someone dependable, integer and just;

someone who would be there for all. Moses knew they would want to have a KING

just like the people around them

A good leader is the one that is chosen by God Himself.

God knows every person and his character, abilities and talents

Human beings cannot see the heart, but God can ( 1Sam.16:6.7)

God will always use His representatives to choose people and give them leadership positions, just the way He guided Samuel in the choice of the King-after-my-heart.

God’s representative must be integer and just, for him/her to be used and guided by God.

A stranger ( paganus in Latin- pagan in English) is the one who is not of our faith, who does not know God…

A stranger is the one who does not lift up God as His Creator and the Creator of the Universe

A stranger is the one who does not uphold God’s commands and follow them all they days of his/her life.

Your brother is a Hebrew, later on, the one who believes in Jesus and his death on the cross for his/her salvation

Only God should be the guide, the defender and the protector of the leader

He must not count on godfathers for appointment and protection, but on God

He must not count on human alliances in order to be chosen and protected – Horses and Egypt

He must not aim to conquer and acquire more power using malicious tricks; by so doing he will set a precedent and a bad example for the followers

He must be morally sound, faithful to God and to God alone.

He must display a spirit of trust in God, even when things seem not to be in his favor

He must not entertain political interests and alliances, rejecting fidelity and trust in God alone.

He must be a husband of one literal wife

It is difficult to serve God and money The love of money is the root of all evil He must not accept bribe and gifts for

they will alter his judgment He must not seek for monetary favors

and look for ways to become rich He must not manipulate policies to favor

himself financially

He must have faith in the Inspired Word He must not give way to false or distorted

interpretation of God’s word He must believe in it and be determined

to be guided by it Prayer must follow the reading in order to

build up faith in God This would strengthen their faith and the

people’s confidence in him and his ruling as originated from God

“The path of men who are placed as leaders is not an easy one. But they are to see in every difficulty a call to prayer. Never are they to fail of consulting the great Source of wisdom. Strengthened and enlightened by the Master Worker, they will be enabled to stand firm against unholy influences and to discern right from wrong, good from evil. They will approve that which God approves, and will strive earnestly against the introduction of wrong principles into His cause”. PK 31

He must read God’s word regularly He must study and meditate and ponder

over it in order to acquire wisdom and direction

The reading of the Word will help him/her to fear God and observe His commandments

He must not be proud and engage into self-exaltation

Pride goes before fall He who exalts himself be humble. He is

failure bound He must have the spirit that was in Jesus

Christ ( Phil.2:5-11) He must avoid to become high-mind A leader is a humble servant of the Lord and

an imitator of Christ; this will prolong his days in leadership.

A good leader is the one who knows God and depends on Him

He is the one who protects his people and teach them good ways

He is morally sound and fears God He loves God’s instructions and follows

them He is humble in all his ways