Leaders take less of the credit and more of the blame. Top-level leaders quickly acknowledge how none of their victories were solo ventures. Every gold medal athlete at the Olympics this year has a story about how they rounded into winning fashion. It was coaches, family members, friends, and spouses who got them to the finish line. 

Why is it, then, that so many try to succeed alone? Why do so many people choose to work alone rather than in the company of others? Alas, this is an idea for another day’s exploration. Today, we are considering King David’s solo effort to stop the plague that fell upon Israel due to his disobedience. 

When David realized how profound his sin was, he confessed to God his foolish rebellion. Verse 8 says,

David said to God, “I have sinned greatly because I have done this thing.
Now, please take away your servant’s guilt, for I’ve been very foolish.”

* David took ownership of his actions. 
* He took responsibility for his failure. 
* He asked God’s forgiveness for his foolishness. 

This is a good model for starting toward beginning again more intelligently. You might want to tuck this away someplace for future use. It comes in pretty handy for me.

Next Step: God forgave David, but the consequences of his sin were already in play. He was given three choices for his punishment (verses 11 and 12). Here was David’s response to the three alternatives (verse 13):

David answered Gad, “I’m in anguish.
Please, let me fall into the LORD’s hands because his mercies are very great,
but don’t let me fall into human hands.”

David’s choice was based on the nature and character of God. What he had experienced from God throughout his life, he asked for again. He acknowledged and asked for God’s great mercy. Mercy is the gift God graciously extends that we do not deserve. 

Sometimes, leaders need to venture forth and stand alone. Again, David shows us the way, the when, and the how in verses 16 and 17:

When David looked up and saw the angel of the Lord standing between earth and heaven,
with his drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem,
David and the elders, covered in sackcloth, fell facedown. 
David asked God, “Wasn’t I the one who gave the order to count the people?
I am the one who has sinned and acted very wickedly.
But these sheep, what have they done?
LORD my God, please let your hand be against me and against my father’s family,
but don’t let the plague be against your people.

* David fell facedown. This is the exclusive and all-inclusive response to seeing God. It is entirely appropriate and completely inescapable. 
* David took ownership of the consequences of his sin. 
* David asked God to punish him and his family and not the innocent people who had nothing to do with his failure. 

This is leadership. 
* It is more facedown than downward facing. 
* It carries more of the burden and receives less of the credit. 
* It is responsible in moments of failure. 

Top-level leaders bear the costs so those they lead experience the gains. 

No leader focused on the blessings of leadership will ever achieve the kind of success his people deserve. 

Leaders must acknowledge, own, carry, correct, and prevent sin and its consequences in the future. 

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I will acknowledge my sin, own it, carry the consequences, correct my course, and seek God’s direction in all things moving forward. I will not lead if I do not do these things. 

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Our Father, please empower us to learn and to live the lessons King David’s leadership crises teach us still today. Make us the responsible leaders we need to be to acknowledge our failures, own the results, bear the consequences, correct our course, and live more intelligently going forward. Amen.