"So Saul had laid an oath on the people ..." (1Sa 14:24 ESV)

When young men become husbands they have leadership immediately thrust upon them:
"But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God." (1Co 11:3 ESV)

"Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior." (Ep 5:22 ESV)

Sadly many young men will become leaders long before they understand what it means to lead. Just look at the story of Saul. Though his performance in 1 Samuel 11 demonstrates that he would make an excellent judge (after the model of the book of Judges), we see that he fails in his attempts to lead as the nation's king. I want to look at two moments of Saul's leadership in chapter 14:

"And the men of Israel had been hard pressed that day, so Saul had laid an oath on the people, saying, “Cursed be the man who eats food until it is evening and I am avenged on my enemies.” So none of the people had tasted food." (1Sa 14:24 ESV)

"And Saul said, “Come here, all you leaders of the people, and know and see how this sin has arisen today. For l as the Lord lives who saves Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die.” But there was not a man among all the people who answered him." (1Sa 14:38-39 ESV)

Saul is a cowboy shooting from the hip.

Caught within a situation he makes a decision way too fast. People say that, "Leaders make decisions for other people." Is that what Godly leaders do? Are New Testament elders "masters" over the people they lead, or are they shepherds who lead by example?

It was pointed out to me this week that even the rule a mother has over her house is stronger than that of elders with the flock. 1 Timothy 5:14 "manage a household"

Young men, leadership does not only mean standing up and making decisions! It means you are seeking after God's will.

I was confused for a while too. I thought, "I need to make some decisions so that I can be a leader! I'm going to decide where we eat for dinner tonight no matter what!"

That's not how you lead. Leadership draw people to accept your rule by your example and wisdom.

"Command and teach these things. Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and a your hearers." 1 Timothy 4:11-16 ESV