Psalms 78:71

Psalm 78:71 beautifully encapsulates the remarkable story of David’s ascent to kingship, emphasizing God's divine selection and preparation. This verse highlights how God elevated David from a humble shepherd to the leader of His chosen people, Israel.

Historical and Cultural Context

This verse is part of a longer psalm (Psalm 78) that recounts Israel's history, God's faithfulness, and their repeated disobedience. Within this narrative, the psalm turns to God's choice of David as king. David's early life was spent tending his father Jesse's sheep in Bethlehem, a common and often solitary profession. Shepherds were responsible for protecting their flock from predators and guiding them to pasture and water. This background provided David with practical skills in leadership, protection, and patient care, which would prove invaluable in his future role. The contrast between tending "ewes great with young" and leading an entire nation underscores the profound shift in David's responsibilities, orchestrated entirely by divine providence.

Key Themes and Messages

• Divine Call and Providence: The verse clearly states that God "brought him," signifying a sovereign act. It's not David's ambition but God's plan that placed him on the throne. This illustrates God's active involvement in human affairs and His ability to raise leaders according to His will.
• Humility to Leadership: David's humble origins as a shepherd are central to his story. God often chooses the overlooked and the humble to accomplish His great purposes, demonstrating that power and authority come from Him, not from human status or strength. This resonates with principles found in other scriptures, such as God choosing the "foolish things of the world".
• Pastoral Leadership: The imagery of "feeding" Jacob and Israel is a powerful metaphor for leadership. The Hebrew word for "feed" (רָעָה, ra'ah) implies not just providing food but also shepherding, tending, protecting, and guiding. This portrays the ideal ruler as one who cares for his people with the same diligence and love a shepherd has for his flock. This concept is foundational to the idea of God as the Great Shepherd, as seen in Psalm 23:1.
• God's People as His Inheritance: Calling Israel "his people" and "his inheritance" emphasizes their special relationship with God. David was chosen to lead God's treasured possession, signifying the immense responsibility and sacred trust placed upon him.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "feed Jacob his people" uses the verb "feed," which in the original Hebrew (רָעָה, ra'ah) carries a much broader meaning than merely providing sustenance. It signifies the full range of a shepherd's duties: to guide, protect, guard, and nourish. Therefore, David was not just to provide for Israel but to shepherd them as a king, offering spiritual and practical leadership. This underscores the comprehensive nature of his divinely appointed role.

Practical Application

Psalm 78:71 offers several timeless lessons for believers today:

1. God's Providence in Our Lives: Just as God chose David from an unexpected background, He often calls ordinary people to extraordinary purposes. Our current circumstances or humble beginnings do not limit God's ability to use us.
2. Faithfulness in Small Things: David's diligence and faithfulness as a shepherd prepared him for the greater responsibilities of kingship. This teaches the importance of being faithful in our present tasks, no matter how small, as they often serve as training grounds for future callings.
3. Leadership as Service: The shepherd metaphor reminds leaders, whether in the church, community, or family, that their role is fundamentally one of selfless care, protection, and guidance, prioritizing the well-being of those they lead.

This verse ultimately celebrates God's wise and sovereign choice of David, a man after His own heart, to lead and care for His beloved inheritance, Israel. For further reading on David's anointing, see 1 Samuel 16:11-13.