A SHEPHERD WITH INTEGRITY OF HEART

Psalm 78:40-72 / Keywords 78:72

 And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.

1. The psalmist continues to recollect the failures of God’s people. The retelling underscores the importance of handing on God’s truth between generations. The Israelites rebelled against God in the wilderness and forgot God’s mighty works for them in Egypt. Though God gave them the Promised Land as an inheritance, they did not keep his laws and became like a faulty bow. Then God punished his people by abandoning the tabernacle at Shiloh and using their enemies. Yet God did not forsake them but chose David, the shepherd boy, to shepherd his people with integrity of heart and skillful hands. In the end, God raised a new David— Jesus—to rule in perfect righteousness.

 

2. Through Israel’s fractured history and God’s long-suffering and faithful shepherding, we can acknowledge the truth. First, the examples of unfaithfulness in the past highlights the importance of faithfulness in our generation. Second, what we do in our lives is recorded in God’s book. Third, God shepherds us with long-suffering patience and restores us in his covenant. Reflecting on God’s patience and mercy regardless of our past sins and failures, shouldn’t we give thanks to him? Let us seek to live according to God’s words and for his glory.

 

Prayer Lord, thank you for your mercy and love to us. Help us grow to be shepherds with integrity of heart and raise up shepherds for your flock.

One Word Remember God’s work, keep his words