I. Charism - La Salle.org

II. CHARISM IN THE BIBLE 17
iours of their people. Some are martyrs and give their blood for
Israel and Yahweh, others are cowards and some assassins.
Sometimes the same leader passes through all these stages in the
course of his life; these are the highs and lows of a man who, in his
struggle, has to take into account three entities: God, his people
and himself.
GIDEON
The negative charism of an inexperienced, distrustful
and cynical leader.
Gideon is chosen by God who treats him as a strong and valiant
man (Jg 6:11-12). Far from appreciating this description by God
and showing trust in him, Gideon complains because he does not
save him from the Midianites, as before (6:13). What happens is
that he ignores the strength of the charism he possesses (11:14). He
lacks trust and demands proofs from God (6:17, 36, 39). God is
meek towards him to help him grow and become conscious of his
charism (6: 17-18, 40). But God’s advances in the hope that he will
become conscious of it are in vain: He does not want to rule
Israel… Let Yahweh be their ruler! (8:23).
In contradiction to his flight from the requirements of his charism,
he exercises royal powers without having been invested with them!
He accepts the ring, the royal symbol (8:25), organises worship
(8:26-27) and even has a harem (8:29).
DAVID
The charism of a humane leader and an organiser.
With David the charism of leadership is subdivided, in a manner of
speaking, into other charisms which enable him to exercise it.