SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 38
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
“He is in your hands,” King Zedekiah answered. “The king can do nothing to oppose you. [Jeremiah 38:5]
In this chapter we see again how weak a king Zedekiah is.
He hands over Jeremiah to the one group of people who want to ‘silence’ Jeremiah, and then gives permission to another group to rescue him.
Secretly he seeks Jeremiah’s counsel, but insists that he not tell anyone.
Keep in mind how often the reason for the collapse of Israel is weak leadership, we see a perfect example of this in Zedekiah – the king can do nothing to oppose you!?!?
He was an absolute monarch, and he could do nothing?

When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!” [Matthew 27:24]
Another example of weak leadership, more committed to self-preservation than to doing the right thing.
Both Zedekiah and Pilate relinquish their responsibility, they are weak leaders.
Jesus stands in stark contrast to this, willing to stand up for what is right and good no matter the consequence.

Each person has a leadership role to some extent – whether as a political leader, church leader, business leader, or as a parent, a citizen, or a role model for others.
Every person has someone that they are responsible for (we are our brothers’ keepers), but what kind of ‘leader are we?
Given the fact that Israel’s world was crashing because of weak leadership, what does that say about our world, especially where we live?
Where should we be taking a stand, speaking up for truth or justice?
Are we washing our hands of our responsibility?
Who are we leading astray because we are weak?

Weak leadership is one of the problems in our world.
Apart from some amazing examples of leaders willing to take a stand at great cost to themselves (William Wilberforce, Martin Luther King), there are many more examples of people who bury their head in the sand and do little or nothing.
How many leaders (at all levels, from the playground to parliament) are more concerned about their position, their popularity, their peace?
Woe to any nation whose leadership is weak.
Its only a matter of time before the whole thing crashes!

PRAYER:
Lord, as a leader in the church and the community, what kind of leadership am I giving? Show me where I am weak, and strengthen me with Your Spirit.