Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Adult Sunday School Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/bb/bb19970216.htm

PSALMS: DIARIES OF GODLY OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS
Psalm Sixty-One - Leadership Security Amidst The Uncontrollable Attitudes Of Subordinates
(Psalm 61:1-8)
  1. Introduction
    1. When one is positioned as a husband, parent, job overseer or teacher or church leader, he always runs the "risk" of the freewill rejection of his oversight by his subordinates!
    2. However, that reality can cause insecurity in the overseer, for his success can depend upon getting really needed cooperation from subordinates.
    3. Well, with the risk of not being followed, what is a husband, parent, job overseer, teacher or church leader supposed to do to be effective and not lose his or her bearings in crises that question his ability to lead?
    4. Psalm 61:1-9 answers this question directly.
  2. Leadership Security Amidst The Uncontrollable Attitudes Of Subordinates, Psalm 61:1-8.
    1. David expressed great personal insecurity and an inability to help himself in the crisis, Ps. 61:1-2.
      1. David noted his need for help as he called unto God from a position of weakness, Ps. 61:1-2a.
      2. In fact, viewing God as a defensive fortress, a High Rock for defensive purposes, David expressed his impotency even to attain to this position of security, Ps. 61:2b.
    2. David called out to God based upon the RECORD God had already established in the past as a Refuge for David in times of opposition from opponents, Ps. 61:3.
    3. In fact, David called upon God as a Secure Fortress for the Lord had supplied for David the submissive cooperation of godly followers of God as a heritage from God for his dominion, Ps. 61:4-5.
    4. Based upon God's record as a defense against enemies and as a supplier of supportive subordinates, David laid out his request for help in gaining the divinely promised throne, Ps. 61:6-8:
      1. David requested that the Lord would increase or prolong his days in spite of the seeming death threats of his enemies and competitors for his role as king, Ps. 61:6.
      2. He requested God's loyal love and faithfulness to His covenant promises regarding his reign establish his throne forever, Ps. 61:7.
      3. David then promised to praise the Lord and fulfill his vows perpetually in thanksgiving, Ps. 61:8.
Lesson: David handled threats to his leadership of Israel by (1) trusting God's help even to FUNCTION as a leader in the midst of draining threats to his oversight (Ps. 61:1-2), and by (2) finding the faith to trust God to that end by (a) recall ing God's FORMER help to establish him as Israel's king (Ps. 61:3) and (b) recalling FORMER help in causing the Lord's followers to follow David in support of his reign (Ps. 61:4-5).

Application: (1) Every overseer in every God-ordained role (husband over wife, parent over child, job overseer over employees, teacher over students and church leader over church congregation) has that role and can FUNCTION with an agreeable follow ing PROVIDING it is GOD Who sets the arrangement up and blesses the leader in it. (2) That being so, ONCE an overseer knows he is in the right ROLE, if challenges to his/her oversight role arise either from without or from the subordinate, all he must do i s look to GOD to strengthen and support him by causing subordinates to FOLLOW for blessing! (3) If things are going BAD through insubordination, an overseer must thereupon check to see (a) IF he is in the God-ordained role, (b) IF he is doing God's will IN that role and (c) IF he is seeking GOD'S help from start to finish in his role or if he is foolishly trying self-manipulation efforts to lead! (4) To be encouraged, recall God's leading TO DATE to the role, and His Biblical PROMISES for help in a role HE has assigned, and resolve to TRUST so as to REJOICE in Him when He gives the victory. (5) WHEN God supplies relief, praise and thank the Lord as a way of life, Ps. 61:8!