Seeking Help as a Leader: Reflections on King Zedekiah
Auteur: Dr. Srećko Koralija O.P., Director of the Research Institute, DOMUNI Universitas
The article “Seeking Help as a Leader: Reflections on King Zedekiah” by Dr. Srećko Koralija, O.P., has recently been published in Revista Teologică (RT 107 [2025]: 2, 8–26). Revista Teologică is a historic theological journal founded in 1907 by Metropolitan Nicolae Bălan in Sibiu. Although it was suppressed during the communist period, it continued its scholarly mission and today serves as an international academic platform for theological studies, ecumenical research, patristic translations, and book reviews. It remains one of the oldest and most respected theological publications in Romania.
This paper examines King Zedekiah’s rhetorical responses to crisis as portrayed in Jeremiah 21:2 and 37:3, focusing on the dynamics of help-seeking behavior, theological reflections, and leadership. Through a detailed comparison of texts, it demonstrates how linguistic nuances can shape interpretations of seeking help and divine intervention. It is demonstrated that Zedekiah’s story highlights the crucial distinction between seeking human assistance and praying for divine intervention. This distinction emphasizes the need for humility and acknowledging one’s limitations. Zedekiah’s approach, alternating between forming political alliances and appealing to God, reveals the vulnerabilities and complexities leaders face under pressure. Such narratives underscore the importance of a coherent and consistent strategy in leadership, where reliance on stable (or divine) guidance can offer a solid moral and ethical compass. In this regard, the paper contributes to understanding leaders’ behavior that transcends mere decision-making, incorporating faith, ethical values and moral responsibility.