Pure leadership - Psalm 45-47

There has been much written in regard to the subject of leadership in today's society. You can't help but find book after book on how to lead as you gaze at the shelves on bookstores across the country. Leading people in groups is both an old art and, yet also is relatively young in today's world. Outside of the military framework, political world and slavery, leading people at work, as we have it today is less than 100 years old. It wasn't until the industrial revolution that we began to lead people in groves out side of war and slavery and, or political leadership. We are still crafting the best ways to lead and we are still validating the best styles to use in leadership. Yet, here in these Psalms we have the best description and the best insight into pure Godly leadership, perhaps ever penned. We could spend days mining the riches in these three Psalms. Each of these Psalms is talking about the "King" and forty-five is Messianic in nature ... referring to the Messiah. Christ's leadership is unparalleled. We see in Psalm 45 that He leads by loving righteousness and hating wickedness (45:7). Imagine if someone were to pattern their leadership after this framework. A few verses earlier the writer described the Messiah's "corporate mission" to be one that pursues truth, meekness and righteousness (45:4). Imagine such a leader! In chapter 46 we read that God is our source of confidence and security ... that is real Biblical leadership. In chapter 47 we read that God is a "great king in all the earth" and then attribute after attribute is listed as to what type of King He is and how we are to sing praises to Him. Earthly leadership cannot, of course, compare to the Messiah and the Father's leadership. We are as far from that in our ability as a small animal creature is from us ... farther. Yet, in our desire to lead the Messiah and the God of the Universe are our true examples and patterns for leadership. With Christ living within us we can strive by the Spirit to be led in order to lead. Many of the books written on leadership today often site the "current" great leader we are to emulate; or, great leaders from the past to follow. Yet, true Biblical leadership should be patterned after the Messiah, King and the God of all Creation, the "king over all the earth" (47:2). Don't read about leaders of this earth and pattern them unless they have discovered the real pattern: Jesus Christ.