Psalm 78:71 - Printer Friendly

ESV: from following the nursing ewes he brought him to shepherd Jacob his people, Israel his inheritance.

NIV: from tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance.

NASB: From the care of the ewes with nursing lambs He brought him To shepherd Jacob His people, And Israel His inheritance.

CSB: he brought him from tending ewes to be shepherd over his people Jacob— over Israel, his inheritance.

NLT: He took David from tending the ewes and lambs and made him the shepherd of Jacob’s descendants — God’s own people, Israel.

KJV: From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.

NKJV: From following the ewes that had young He brought him, To shepherd Jacob His people, And Israel His inheritance.

Psalm 78:65–72 explains how Israel's stubborn, disobedient history did not stop the Lord from working on their behalf. He preserved the nation and brought it under the rule of King David, of the tribe of Judah. God established Jerusalem and continued to bless His chosen people.

This psalm begins with a call for Israel to remember. In fact, they are told to remember remembering: God intends them to look back on their history during hard times. After setting this scene, Asaph gives a detailed list of ways in which the Lord has dealt with Israel. This includes punishment for blatant sin, but also consistent protection and care. Every time Israel sinned, God preserved and restored them, no matter how far they fell.

Asaph's name is associated with several psalms that start with worry (Psalm 73:2–3; 74:1; 77:2–3; 79:5) and end in confidence (Psalm 73:16–18; 74:12; 77:10–11; 79:13). This song is an extensive list of reasons why the people of Israel should trust the Lord, even in hard times. When Israel was freed from Egypt by God's power, they continued to be stubborn and disobedient. Even so, the Lord cared for them. Those events are the basis of Psalm 78.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.

Accessed 11/21/2024 4:01:47 PM