Hi
Have you ever thought about David’s meteoric rise to power? Maybe David was chosen by God because as a shepherd, he already knew how to rule/manage. Of course, being human; he made mistakes from time to time, some deadly, but providing protection for those in his care came naturally. Consider today’s Holy Nougat when David defends his request to fight the Philistine giant.
“But David persisted. “I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats,” he said. “When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death.” 1 Samuel 17:34-35 NLT
Erm …
Probably not me. I’m not even sure that it was taught in shepherding school. But even so; killing bears and lions bare-hand and with a single club doesn’t sound like fun to me. Nor was the pay covering the security risks. It’s not surprising that shepherding was often given to females (remember Moses aiding Jethro’s daughters), youngest sons or hired hands. In their time, all those were dispensable. (For one would not willingly risk the heir or spare if one could afford it)! Yet, David was crowned king!
It’s no wonder David referred to God as his Shepherd tho. For, in David’s experience a shepherd was brave, crafty, caring, protective and always seeking the best for those in the shepherd’s care. And when we take into account Moses being given leadership-management training on the far side of the wilderness by caring for Jethro’s sheep; we might see that the nomenclature was not as strange to the Israelite community.
There are over 40 references to God as shepherd in the Bible. One of them being Jesus’ famous I AM speech in John 10. If Jesus self-described as the Good Shepherd, we know that A) there are bad shepherds and that Jesus is ready and equipped to protect, provide, and preserve us (as indicated by David’s statement above). David was chosen for his heart which reflected God’s heart for us humans. Yes indeed!
Do we trust David’s experiential declaration that our Eternal God is also our Shepherd? Are we willing to trust Jesus’ self-revelation that He is The Good Shepherd? What do we truly mean when we repeat the 23rd Psalm? God is my Protector, Provider, Preserver, truly I have need for nothing! Can we live what we say? I think so. Let’s trust our Shepherd as we go around today.
Good morning
In Christ’s love and grace . . .
