Are you able to follow a lessor skilled person? 2 Samuel 20-24

2 Samuel 23:18-19 (NASBStr)

Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of the thirty. And he swung his spear against three hundred and killed them, and had a name as well as the three. He was most honored of the thirty, therefore he became their commander; however, he did not attain to the three.

In this section of the book the author is recounting the events and men known as "David's Mighty Men."   If you look at the end of this chapter you will see that there are 37 of them.  All of them a type of "special forces" group that did David's will and carried out his commands.   These men were great warriors and faithful followers of the king.    The above mentioned warrior, Abishai, was one the better of the 37, but, as noted in the end of the above verse there were three even better than him.   Although they have already been listed, the Big Three, were a story to themselves.   These "Three" had a reputation known of the others could measure up to or match.    Yet, it was not one of them that lead this band of 37.   Although the "Three" were of better skills, had more notoriety and longer resume of enemy kills, Abishai was the leader.   The lesson here is rather obvious: The leader doesn't have to be the best at doing the job.  He only has to be the best leader.    Leadership is not always about being the "doer" of the work.  It is about getting others to do the work and knowing how to do that to the max.  Apparently Abishai was able to motivate and coordinate these special men into a true quick-response team.   It is often thought that these are the same men mentioned earlier in David's life, when he was on the run from Saul.  Note the following:

1 Samuel 22:1-2 (NASBStr)

 So David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam; and when his brothers and all his father’s household heard of it, they went down there to him. Everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him; and he became captain over them. Now there were about four hundred men with him.

If these 37 emerged out of the 400 mentioned above, it is a great picture of God's grace at work in the lives of men.   David was, at first their leader.   But, under David's leadership others emerged to lead.   Abishai was able to put his pride aside and allow others, much more equipped to do work, take the battle and garner the reputation.   Yet, he was still the best leader.  The other three were able to put their pride aside and follow a lessor skilled man with a lessor reputation.   This is true humility in leadership and in follwer-ship.   The best doesn't always have to be the leader but the best should always follow the best leader.