761_What God looks for in a leader (Jeremiah 21:1-23:8)
Jeremiah 22:15-17 Do you think you are a king
because you compete in cedar?
Did not your father eat and drink
and do justice and righteousness?
Then it was well with him.
16 He judged the cause of the poor and needy;
then it was well.
Is not this to know me?
declares the Lord .
17 But you have eyes and heart
only for your dishonest gain,
for shedding innocent blood,
and for practicing oppression and violence.”
There is an old saying about leadership: “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” Scripture reminds us that leadership is not merely about persuading others to follow or about achieving the leader’s goals. Leaders must one day account to God for their use of their influence.
Jeremiah 21 through 23 are largely addressed to the kings of Judah at a time when the nation was moving rapidly toward destruction. After the death of the godly king Josiah, Judah saw one king after another becoming unfaithful to God. The nation was torn apart by political danger, moral corruption, injustice, and spiritual unfaithfulness. And in the midst of this crisis, God spoke through Jeremiah about what He looks for in a leader.
Jeremiah 21 begins with a remarkable moment. Faced with the impending arrival of the Babylonian army to lay siege to Jerusalem, King Zedekiah’s messengers arrive asking Jeremiah to inquire of the Lord. The king is anxious to know for sure that God will rescue his people. But God declares that Jerusalem will fall and that His judgment is coming.
Chapter 22 reveals why these kings were judged so severely. It was not merely because they were unsuccessful rulers. They had failed in their fundamental responsibility as leaders. In Jeremiah 22:3, God gives a clear command: “Thus says the LORD: Do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow.”
Justice, righteousness, and the protection of the vulnerable: these were not optional qualities for a king. They were central to his calling.
The Lord then rebukes King Jehoiakim openly. He had built an impressive palace of royal cedar, boasting of his wealth and position. But the Lord dismisses his foolish arrogance: “Do you think you are a king because you compete in cedar?” In other words, “Is this what makes you a king? Is it demonstrated by the grandeur, luxury, and prestige of your house and your lifestyle?”
The Lord points him back to his father Josiah. Jeremiah 22:15–16 says, “Did not your father eat and drink and do justice and righteousness? Then it was well with him. He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well. Is not this to know me? declares the LORD.”
Let us listen humbly to the Lord, and learn from his question: “Is not this to know me?”
To know God is not merely to aim at an accurate and deep knowledge of the scriptures, to be able to preach well from them, or to busy ourselves with the duties of our church. It is not to spend much time in prayer and worship and Bible study. Rather, it is to seek to treat others with fairness and righteousness. It is to execute justice on behalf of the poor, the weak, the forgotten, and those who have little power to defend themselves.
And this principle is not limited to kings. We may never sit on a throne, but we must still live out the life of righteousness and justice within our sphere of influence. A father lives with God as he nurtures his family, a mother as she tends her children. A pastor leads his flock in the service of the Great Shepherd. Whether as a teacher with students, an employer with his employees, or a father in the church with younger believers – wherever we are entrusted with influence, the Lord loves to see us use it to do justice and righteousness to the poor and powerless.
Let these words lead us to ask ourselves how we treat those who are under our care. Do they experience justice and righteousness? Do they feel secure and valued? Do I use my position to serve others, or do I use others to strengthen my position?
Sadly, Judah’s king and leaders turned leadership into self-interest. They were concerned with their own security, comfort, power, and prestige. But in God’s kingdom, leadership is not about what the leader may expect to gain from his power and position. Leaders are those entrusted with the authority to serve those in their care, to the point of giving up themselves for the good of their people.
The problem in Judah was much deeper than simply having a few bad kings. The people of Israel needed a different kind of king altogether. Human rulers had failed to rule in justice and righteousness. And here comes the promise of Jeremiah 23.
The Lord says, “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.”
This righteous Branch from the godly stock of Abraham is the promised Messiah, Jesus Christ. He would not exploit His people; He would shepherd them. He would not use His authority for selfish gain; He would lay down His life for them.
And Jeremiah 23:6 proclaims: “And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’”
The kings of Judah failed to live according to God’s righteousness. But the coming King is “The LORD is our righteousness.”
The world needs, not merely better leaders, but a righteous King. The Lord, Jesus Christ, is the fulfilment of the divine promise. He is the One who reveals in all his ways and works the shape of godly leadership. He said, “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant” (Matthew 20:26). And he demonstrated his meaning by washing the feet of his disciples, comforting them in their sorrow at his imminent departure, and most gloriously, by giving His life as a propitiation for the whole world.
As we think about leadership today, let us not ask, “How much authority do I have?” but, “What am I doing with the authority God has given me?” The measure of leadership in God’s eyes is not how important we make ourselves, how great our achievements are, or how many people recognize us. All he sees is how well our deeds and words reflect his love and his righteousness.
Let us aim to make our leadership a place where justice is practiced, righteousness is honored, the vulnerable are protected, and people are treated with dignity.
And if we are under the authority of a leader who has disappointed us, Jeremiah reminds us that God’s righteous King never fails. We can place our ultimate confidence not in earthly rulers but in Jesus Christ, the King whose throne is established in righteousness.
Perhaps we need to answer this question today: Do we really know him? For if so, that knowledge should completely transform the way we lead, influence, serve, and treat the people he has placed around us. God bless.
Before you move on with the rest of your day, take a few moments to reflect on these questions:
What does Jeremiah 22:15–16 reveal about the kind of leadership God considers pleasing to Him?
How does the way you use your influence over others reveal what you truly believe about God?
What practical changes could you make in your family, workplace, church, or relationships so that your leadership reflects the justice and righteousness of Christ?
How does knowing Jesus as the righteous King change the way you respond when human leaders fail?
Let us pray.
Lord, enlighten my heart to understand the truths You have taught me through Your Word. Show me how You see leadership and influence, and reveal to me the ways in which I may have used what You entrusted to me for my own comfort, recognition, or advantage. Teach me to pursue justice and righteousness and to care for those who are weak, forgotten, or vulnerable. Help me to follow the example of Jesus, our righteous King, who came not to be served but to serve and give His life for others. Give me the strength to believe Your Word and the grace to put these truths into practice in my daily life. May the way I lead and influence others demonstrate that I truly know You. In Lord Jesus’ name, Amen.
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