Day 706: The shepherd king - Psalm 78 vs 55 – 72

55 God drove out nations before them; he apportioned them for a possession and settled the tribes of Israel in their tents. 56-58 Yet they tested and rebelled against the Most High God and did not keep his testimonies, but turned away and acted treacherously like their fathers; they twisted like a deceitful bow. For they provoked him to anger with their high places; they moved him to jealousy with their idols. 59-64 When God heard, he was full of  wrath, and he utterly rejected Israel. He forsook his dwelling at Shiloh, the tent where he dwelt among mankind, and delivered his power to captivity, his glory to the hand of the foe. He gave his people over to the sword and vented his wrath on his heritage. Fire devoured their young men, and their young women had no marriage song. Their priests fell by the sword, and their widows made no lamentation.

65-66 Then the Lord awoke as from sleep, like a strong man shouting because of wine, and he put his adversaries to rout; he put them to everlasting shame. 67-69 He rejected the tent of  Joseph; he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim, but he chose the tribe of Judah,  Mount Zion, which he loves. He built his sanctuary like the high heavens, like the earth, which he has founded for ever. 70-72 He chose David his servant and took him from the sheepfolds; from  following the nursing ewes he brought him to shepherd Jacob his people, Israel his  inheritance. With upright heart he shepherded them and guided them with his skilful hand. Psalm 78:55-72 English Standard Version

We come to the last part of this long Psalm which tells how the people God rescued out of Egypt let Him down so often. What sort of King would come to your mind if he is described as a 'shepherd’ king?

It doesn't sound like an authoritarian and arrogant person, but someone who is tender hearted and who desires to look after his people. This is the sort of King described in vs 70-72 that God gave to Israel – a man of integrity of heart and great ability. The amazing thing is that He gave them this King despite how they'd let Him down continually. Having brought them out of slavery and settled them in a lovely land of their own – how had they responded? (vs 56-58)

Those verses relate to the Old Testament book of Judges where we read of people like Gideon, Samson and Deborah, who God sent to rescue the nation after they'd been unfaithful to Him and worshipped idols. But their ongoing disobedience eventually led to what we read in vs 59-64 where God let the holy ark be captured by the Philistine army. The ark was from the days of Moses and had been kept in a tent tabernacle at a place called Shiloh. It reminded them of all God had done and was a symbol of His presence with them. When it was captured it must've looked as if He had rejected them forever. But what do vs 65-66 show?

They take us back to what Moses heard when he went up the mountain a second time to receive God's commandments, and a voice proclaimed: “The Lord is a compassionate and gracious God - slow to anger - and abounding in faithful love and truth -  maintaining faithful love to a thousand generations - forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin.” (Exodus 34:6)

God didn't blot the nation out (as they deserved) or abandon them forever - but He did make some big changes, which we see in vs 67-69. He chose the tribe of Judah to be the new leader, and Jerusalem as the place to symbolize His presence with them. More importantly, He gave them a shepherd King. And even though David was not without his own sins, the nation did well when he was King and many Psalms of praise flowed out to God. (vs 70-72)

How wonderful then to read of the sinless Shepherd King who God has given to the whole world, the one who said “I am the good shepherd.” (John 10:11) The apostle Peter wrote concerning Jesus: “He personally carried our sins in His body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By His wounds you are healed. Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls!” (1 Peter 2:24-25) He is the Shepherd we must follow and serve with all our heart. He makes the famous words of Psalm 23 a reality where it says “The Lord is my Shepherd.”