Psalms 78:70

He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds:

He chose {H977}{H8799)} David {H1732} also his servant {H5650}, and took {H3947}{H8799)} him from the sheepfolds {H4356}{H6629}:

He chose David to be his servant, taking him from the sheep-yards;

He chose David His servant and took him from the sheepfolds;

He chose David also his servant, And took him from the sheepfolds:

Psalms 78:70 (KJV): "He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds:"

Context

Psalm 78 is a historical psalm, recounting God's faithfulness to Israel despite their repeated rebellion and disobedience. It narrates the story of God's mighty acts from the Exodus through the wilderness wanderings, the conquest of Canaan, and the period of the Judges. The psalm highlights Israel's unfaithfulness and God's enduring patience and provision. Verses 67-69 describe God's rejection of the tribe of Ephraim (symbolized by the tabernacle at Shiloh) and His choice of Judah and Mount Zion as His dwelling place. This verse (70) then transitions to the specific selection of David as God's chosen leader, setting the stage for the establishment of the monarchy and the Davidic covenant.

Key Themes

  • Divine Election and Sovereignty: The most prominent theme is God's active, sovereign choice of David. It emphasizes that David's rise to power was not by human design or ambition, but solely by divine will. This underlines God's ultimate control over history and leadership.
  • Humility and Unexpected Origins: God "took him from the sheepfolds," illustrating a profound biblical principle: God often chooses the humble, the overlooked, and the seemingly insignificant for His greatest purposes. David was a shepherd, a common and often solitary occupation, not a prince or a warrior, when God called him. This echoes themes found in 1 Corinthians 1:27, where God chooses the "foolish" and "weak" things of the world.
  • Preparation for Leadership: The sheepfolds, while humble, served as David's training ground. There, he developed qualities like courage (protecting sheep from lions and bears), compassion, and responsibility, which were essential for his future role as the "shepherd" of God's people, Israel (as seen in Psalm 78:71).

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "chose" is bachar (בָּחַר), which denotes a deliberate, active selection, often implying a special purpose or covenantal relationship. This is not a casual picking but a divinely purposed decision. The term "servant," `eved (עֶבֶד), when applied to figures like David, Moses, or the prophets, signifies a position of honor, one who is devoted to and acts on behalf of God. It highlights David's loyalty and obedience to the divine will. The phrase "took him from the sheepfolds" (מִמִּכְלָאֹת הַצֹּאן - mimikla'ot hattson) vividly paints a picture of his humble, pastoral beginnings, emphasizing the contrast with his future royal status, a point also made in 2 Samuel 7:8.

Practical Application

This verse offers profound encouragement and insight for believers today. It reminds us that God's calling is not limited by our background, social status, or perceived abilities. He often looks past human qualifications to the heart and chooses those who are humble and available for His purposes. Our current seemingly mundane or insignificant circumstances might be God's training ground, preparing us for future roles or responsibilities. It encourages us to embrace humility, faithfully serve where we are, and trust in God's sovereign plan, knowing that He can raise anyone from any walk of life to accomplish His mighty works for His glory.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 1 Samuel 16:11

    And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all [thy] children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.

  • 1 Samuel 16:12

    And he sent, and brought him in. Now he [was] ruddy, [and] withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this [is] he.

  • Acts 13:22

    And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the [son] of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.

  • 2 Samuel 7:8

    Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel:

  • 1 Kings 19:19

    ¶ So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who [was] plowing [with] twelve yoke [of oxen] before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.

  • 1 Kings 19:20

    And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and [then] I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee?

  • Psalms 89:19

    ¶ Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon [one that is] mighty; I have exalted [one] chosen out of the people.

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