2 Samuel 5:1-2 (NIVUK)
1 All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, ‘We are your own flesh and blood. 2 In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the Lord said to you, “You shall shepherd my people Israel, and you shall become their ruler.”’
What did David understand by God calling him to shepherd his people? We see the answer in 1 Sam 17:34-35, ‘34 But David said to Saul, ‘Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, 35 I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it.‘ To David, a shepherd is one who protects his flock, even at risk to themselves. Again, this could be seen as another foretaste of Jesus’ work, our Good Shepherd, who grappled with sin and death on the Cross, at the cost of his own life, in order to rescue us.
Jesus, thank you that you gave your life in order to save ours.
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