Psalms 78:70

70 He chose his servant David; 1 he took him from the pastures,

Psalms 78:70 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 78:70

He chose David also his servant
To be king of Israel, the youngest of his father's family, when he rejected all the rest; see ( 1 Samuel 16:6 1 Samuel 16:11 ) , an eminent type of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is called by his name, ( Psalms 89:3 Psalms 89:19 ) ( Ezekiel 34:23 ) ( 37:24 ) ( Hosea 3:5 ) and the signification of his name "Beloved" agrees with him, who is beloved of God, as his Son, and as man and Mediator; and beloved of men, of all the saints: and so likewise his character as a servant suits with him; who not only frequently has the name of a servant, ( Psalms 89:19 Psalms 89:20 ) ( Isaiah 42:1 ) ( Zechariah 3:8 ) , but appeared in the form of one, ( Philippians 2:7 ) , had the work of a servant to do, which he has accomplished, even the great work of our salvation, ( John 17:4 ) , in doing which, and all things leading on and appertaining to it, he took the utmost delight and pleasure, and used the greatest diligence and assiduity, ( John 4:34 ) ( 9:4 ) and justly acquired the character of a faithful and righteous servant, ( Isaiah 53:11 ) , and to this work and office he was chosen and called by his Father, ( Isaiah 42:1 ) ( 49:3 ) ,

and took him from the sheepfolds;
from whence he was fetched when Samuel was sent by the Lord to anoint him, ( 1 Samuel 16:11 ) , so Moses, while he was feeding his father's sheep, was called to be the saviour and deliverer of Israel, ( Exodus 3:1-10 ) , and Amos was taken from following the flock to be a prophet of the Lord, ( Amos 7:13 Amos 7:14 ) , and as David was a type of Christ, this may express the mean condition of our Lord, in his state of humiliation, previous to his exaltation, and the more open exercise of his kingly office.

Psalms 78:70 In-Context

68 Instead he chose the tribe of Judah and Mount Zion, which he dearly loves.
69 There he built his Temple like his home in heaven; he made it firm like the earth itself, secure for all time.
70 He chose his servant David; he took him from the pastures,
71 where he looked after his flocks, and he made him king of Israel, the shepherd of the people of God.
72 David took care of them with unselfish devotion and led them with skill.

Cross References 1

  • 1. 78.70, 71 1 S 16.11, 12; 2 S 7.8;1 Chronicles 17.7.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.