Psalms 78:70

⁶⁹He built His sanctuary like the heights, like the earth He has established forever. ⁷⁰He chose David His servant and took him from the sheepfolds; ⁷¹from tending the ewes He brought him to be shepherd of His people Jacob, of Israel His inheritance.

Sermons

(Through the Bible) 1 Chronicles 1-11

Chuck Smith

3.4K

King David

David Guzik

978

Summary

This verse highlights God's choice of David as a leader for His people, emphasizing David's heart and character that aligned with God's own heart. It reflects God's sovereignty in selecting individuals to fulfill His purposes and carry out His plans. David's anointing as king was a divine appointment, showcasing God's faithfulness in raising up leaders who would shepherd His people with integrity and wisdom. The verse serves as a reminder of God's guidance and provision in establishing righteous leadership for His chosen nation.

Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

God's sovereignty was illustrated in this choice. The contrast is striking--humility and exaltation--and the correspondence is beautiful.

John Gill Bible Commentary

From following the ewes great with young,.... Or, "from after" them (a); it was usual with the shepherd to put them before him, and to follow them, and gently drive them, which is expressive of his care and tenderness of them; see Gen 33:13, the same is observed of David's antitype, the great and good Shepherd of the sheep, Isa 40:11. David was a type of Christ as a shepherd; as he kept his father's sheep, so Christ keeps those that the Father has given him, Joh 10:29, as David kept his flock with great care and courage, and in safety, Sa1 17:34, so does the Lord Jesus Christ keep his flock in safety, and preserves it from Satan, the roaring lion, and from grievous wolves that enter into it, and every beast of prey that would devour it; and particularly as David took special care of those that were with young, so does the Lord take special care of such that are newborn babes, that have Christ formed in them, and are big with desires after him, carry a burden, and are weary, and heavy laden: the Targum, Jarchi, and Kimchi, interpret the word (b) of such that give suck, and so it most properly signifies: he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance; that is, to rule over them: this is said in allusion to his having been a shepherd; and nothing is more common than for kings to be represented as shepherds, and their acts of government by leading and feeding; and one and the same word in the Greek language signifies to feed and rule: and so the Targum, "he brought him to rule over Jacob his people:'' this was a great honour indeed, to be the governor of the Lord's people, a special people above all people on the face of the earth, and whom he had chosen to be his inheritance; and in this also he was a type of Christ, who has the throne of his father David given him, and who reigns over the house of Jacob, one of whose titles is King of saints; for as the government of the world in general, so of the church in particular, is on his shoulders, Luk 1:32. (a) "de post", Montanus, Vatablus, Gejerus; "a post", Michaelis. (b) "lactantes", Vatablus, Gejerus, Michaelis.