So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands. —
Psalms 78:72
The story of David could easily mirror that of any of us. Psalms 78 was a contemplation of Asaph purposefully chronicled to instruct future generations of the children of Israel about what God had done for them. In verses 68-72, he reminded them about how God took David from obscurity in the sheepfolds and brought him into a place of leadership and responsibility.Psalms 78:72
David distinguished himself with two things which are as relevant today as they were thousands of years ago – INTEGRITY and SKILFULNESS. The integrity of David’s heart referred to his principles and values. As a shepherd, David cared for the sheep and risked his life for them several times. He learnt to honour God in worship and show compassion to the weak and vulnerable. David learnt to humble himself before God when he erred. These values came to bear at different times in David’s kingship.
The skillfulness of David’s hands was a description of his talents, abilities and professionalism. His diligence and expertise in handling sheep proved useful in shepherding God’s flock. His strength and skill demonstrated in fighting the lion and the bear were later deployed in fighting Goliath and the Philistine armies. Like David, your leadership will often be tested with small roles in the sheepfold before you are ushered into your big assignment. May you always be found to be honest in your outlook and at the same time professional in your output.
Prayer:
Lord, help me to rise to the challenge and seize the opportunities You bring my way with integrity and skill.Scripture Reading:
Psalms 78:68-72
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