Scripture Daily

Context No. 3674 of 4322 · Psalms

Context · Reflection

Psalms 78:65-72: in context

65Then the Lord awakened as one out of sleep, like a mighty man who shouts by reason of wine. 66He struck his adversaries backward. He put them to a perpetual reproach. 67Moreover he rejected the tent of Joseph, and didn’t choose the tribe of Ephraim, 68But chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion which he loved. 69He built his sanctuary like the heights, like the earth which he has established forever. 70He also chose David his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds; 71from following the ewes that have their young, he brought him to be the shepherd of Jacob, his people, and Israel, his inheritance. 72So he was their shepherd according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.

After recounting Israel's long faithlessness, the psalm ends with a picture of God's grace: he chose Judah, established Zion, and chose David his servant, taking him from the sheepfolds, from tending the nursing ewes, to shepherd his people Jacob. God's pattern is often to raise up the humble for great purposes, taking a shepherd boy from the fields and making him the shepherd of a whole nation.

And notice the two qualities that marked David's leadership: he shepherded them with integrity of heart, and guided them with skillful hands. Both are needed in one who leads God's people, integrity, a heart upright before God, and skill, the practical competence to guide well. A good shepherd of God's people needs both a right heart and a capable hand. God took David from following the sheep and gave him both, and through him cared for his people. This foreshadows the true Shepherd, Christ, who leads God's flock with perfect integrity and perfect skill.

In whatever I am given to lead or care for, do I seek both integrity of heart and skill of hand, and do I trust the true Shepherd who leads God's people perfectly in both?

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