Sometimes the most God-honoring leadership skill is a closed mouth. Read Isaiah 39:1-8.

King Hezekiah of Judah had miraculously recovered from a life-threatening illness. The Babylonian King sent envoys with letters and a gift because he had heard of Hezekiah’s illness and recovery. The Babylonians were a budding world power and their constant challenge to the Assyrian Empire, Hezekiah’s arch enemy, pleased Hezekiah. In a moment of personal and national pride, Hezekiah decided to impress the Babylonian envoys, a potential military ally, and showed them the wealth and military arsenals of Judah. The prophet Isaiah was sent by God to rebuke Hezekiah because he couldn’t resist boasting about his success.

Wise Christian leaders make strategic alliances with great care. Read Isaiah 31:1-3.

The Lord spoke through Isaiah to condemn the leaders of Judah for seeking alliances with military partners for defense against the Assyrian Empire. Not just once but several times God warned the leaders in Judah not to make an alliance with Egypt. In spite of the warnings, the leaders in Judah chose the visible force who had chariots and trained warriors rather than the invisible time tested and proven, protection offered by God. God’s warning to the leaders was that, “…he who helps will stumble, he who is helped will fall; both will perish together” (v. 3).

Knowledgeable leaders select their outside alliances carefully, understanding their own character and subsequent actions are shaped by these relationships. Read Proverbs 13:20.

Solomon wrote the Proverbs often restating the same principle in slightly different ways to make sure his readers got the point. For example, the following Proverbs in conjunction with Proverbs 13:20 make his point very clear:

Wise leaders create an environment where advisors are encouraged to give their input and feel free to enter into dialog even when their counsel is unpopular. Read Proverbs 11:14.

Effective leaders legitimize, encourage and utilize trusted advisors as they make decisions. These advisors add value to the leadership of the organization. This “inner circle” of counselors is so important that according to verse 14 without them a nation (business/ministry) will fail and with them victory is sure.

Wise leaders recognize wisdom, knowledge and passion in individuals and promote those individuals to positions of authority. Read Ezra 7.

Artaxerxes was the fourth king of Persia to interact with the Jewish people who had been exiled to Babylon by the Babylonians prior to the Persian conquest of Babylon. The Persians were a fairly superstitious people which led to one of the Persian’s national defense policies – allowing a portion of the exiled population of each people group under Babylonian captivity to return to their homeland and establish a national presence and re-establish worship of their god in their homeland. This policy gave the Persians the good will of those returning to their homeland and those from that people group staying in Persian territory, and it gave them physical allies on the perimeter of their nation and the favor of the gods of the people living in these regions.