WEDNESDAY May 22, 2019
Shepherd Servant
But David occasionally went and returned from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem. And the Philistine drew near and presented himself forty days, morning and evening.
1 Samuel 17:15-16
David had returned home from being with Saul to help watch his father’s sheep. He was still in preparation to become the next King of Israel. Unknowingly, he was the one man God had chosen to stand against Goliath who taunted the army of Israel both morning and evening. David’s character and call is described in Psalm 78:70-72:
He also chose David His servant, and took him from the sheepfolds;from following the ewes that had young He brought him, to shepherd Jacob His people, and Israel His inheritance. So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.
We know David was a man after God’s own heart, but he also had a heart of integrity––the quality of being honest and upright. He lived according to God’s Word. As a shepherd, David had learned how to take care of sheep; he was groomed as a shepherd to skillfully guide God’s people.
David, during his life, wrote a very well-known Psalm––Psalm 23. In His relationship with God, David knew theLord as his Shepherd: The Lordis my shepherd; I shall not want (Psalm 23:1).David experienced the mercy, goodness, guidance and protection of his Shepherd his entire life.
Open your Bible today and slowly read Psalm 23. Ponder on the thoughts of David as he penned these profound verses. It will not only show you David’s heart of worship, but his heart after God. From these verses, what have you personally learned of God’s character? Can you determine where you are at in your Christian journey? Perhaps you are resting by still waters, or you find yourself in the valley of the shadow of death. Know that God is with you; He is your Shepherd.
Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
~Psalm 100:3~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!