Pastor YC "Psalm 69: The Narrow Path"

The leader's primary concern is many times not with his own suffering, but rather how his situation affects the people that seek God.

PS 69:6 May those who hope in you not be disgraced because of me, O Lord, the LORD Almighty; may those who seek you not be put to shame because of me, O God of Israel.

In Ps 69, King David dscribes a situation of extreme distress: people hating him without reason, multiple enemies seeking to destroy him, wrongly accused of stealing and forced to restore what he did not steal. Yet in these times, the true leader's heart lies with people who may be discouraged from following God because of his trying situation.

And King David goes on to respond in a true leader's way - to continue to do what is right, to praise God and glorify him. His cry is that the God-seekers' hearts will live.

PS 69:30 I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.
PS 69:31 This will please the LORD more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hoofs.
PS 69:32 The poor will see and be glad--you who seek God, may your hearts live!

What an example for the leader! A willingness to walk a narrower path than all others, so that others may live. Much as leaders wish that they will always ride on the heights so that others may be inspired, the true leaders are able to lead even when they are down and/or under a time of testing.

In real life I know how difficult that is, having seen how my Senior Pastor bear up so admirably in times of difficulty. I've also experienced the same situations as a leader. But of course, all these lead to memories of how Jesus our Saviour walked in all these times.