By Rev Clifford Chisha
“… And the people took confidence from the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.”
2 CHRONICLES 32:8 (ESV)
A good leader knows that his words matter a lot in all matters concerning the people he leads.
Be sensitive.
The words you utter as a leader have the potential to either encourage or discourage the people you lead.
When king Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and that he intended to go to war against Jerusalem,he decided to prepare himself well.
Together with his officers and his soldiers, he stopped the water [supply] from the springs which were outside the city to deny the enemy access to water.
Hezekiah resolutely set to work and rebuilt all the wall that had been broken down,and erected towers on it, and he built another wall outside and strengthened the fortification.
He also made a great number of weapons and shields.
He then gathered the people and spoke encouragingly to them.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be dismayed because of the king of Assyria, nor because of all the army that is with him; for the One with us is greater than the one with him.” — 2Chr 32:7
“With him there is only an arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people relied on the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.” — 2Chr 32:8
The enemy was not a push over, the army and the civilians of Judah knew it.
Even after preparing well,king Hezekiah knew that his word as a leader mattered in the situation at hand.
He spoke encouragingly and the people relied on his words.
They took confidence from the words of the king.
People draw the much needed confidence and/or inspiration from their trusted leader in times of difficulties.
Even on matters us leaders deem to be petty, the people we lead wants to hear our word.
The words of a leader matters in all matters.
