Psalms 78:70 Meaning and Explanation
“He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds:”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →God's choice of David comes near the close of a psalm filled with Israel's unfaithfulness, discipline, and mercy. The verse matters because it locates David's rise in God's purposeful choice. His former work among sheep becomes the setting from which God calls a servant to care for Israel.
After recounting Israel's failures and God's choice of Zion and Judah, the psalmist says that God chose David as his servant and called him away from shepherding sheep for a larger service among God's people.
The Context of Psalms 78:70
Psalm 78 surveys Israel's history from Egypt through the wilderness and settlement in the land. It records repeated rebellion, God's judgments, and his continuing compassion. Near the end, the psalm turns to God's choice of Judah and Mount Zion after rejecting Ephraim's sanctuary at Shiloh. Verse 69 mentions the sanctuary God built on Zion. Verse 70 then introduces David, whom God chose as his servant and took from the sheepfolds. Verse 71 explains that David was brought from tending ewes to feed Jacob and Israel. Verse 72 closes the psalm by describing his integrity of heart and skillful guidance.
What Does Psalms 78:70 Mean?
"He chose David" places the decisive action with God. David is called "his servant," a title that frames leadership as service under God's authority. The phrase "also" joins David to the preceding choices of Judah and Zion in the psalm's closing movement. God "took him from the sheepfolds," identifying David's earlier labor with the flock. The verse does not describe David's private feelings, gifts, or achievements; it emphasizes God's calling. His place among sheep was real preparation for the task named in the next verse, feeding Jacob, God's people. The humble setting makes clear that Israel's king was received from God's hand, not established by his own status.
The placement of this verse gives it special force. Psalm 78 has shown leaders and people alike failing to remember God and keep covenant. Its final movement does not leave Israel only with the record of collapse. God chooses Judah, establishes Zion, and appoints David to shepherd his inheritance. Verse 72 evaluates David's rule through integrity of heart and skillfulness of hands, echoing the inward concern of verse 8. The psalm still speaks soberly about human weakness, since David himself belonged to Israel's troubled story. Its hope rests in God's ability to raise a servant and provide care for his people through the offices he appoints.
David's shepherding role becomes a lasting biblical pattern for kingship. God later promises a Davidic ruler who will shepherd his people, and the prophets use David's name for that hoped-for servant. Jesus openly identifies himself as the good shepherd and is called the Son of David. Psalm 78:70 therefore contributes to the scriptural path toward Christ by presenting David as God's chosen servant drawn from the flock to feed Israel. The connection honors the verse's own setting: God provides a shepherd for his people, and the greater David fulfills that royal shepherding hope with faithful care.
Bible Verses Related to Psalms 78:70
“And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.”
- 1 Samuel 16:11
“Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel:”
- 2 Samuel 7:8
“So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.”
- Psalm 78:72
“I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”
- John 10:11
Where Psalms 78:70 Echoes in Scripture
Ezekiel 34:23 offers a particularly strong echo, promising one shepherd over God's people, "my servant David." In its prophetic setting, the promise addresses failed shepherds and looks to God's provision of faithful care. Psalm 78:70 supplies the earlier account of David's selection from the sheepfolds, making David's servant-shepherd role central to the later hope.
How to Apply Psalms 78:70 Today
God's call may meet us in work that seems ordinary and unseen. Caring faithfully for a household, a team, a class, a neighbor, or a small responsibility can form habits of attention, patience, and integrity. Psalm 78:70 also invites leaders to remember that authority is service under God. We can measure our influence by whether it contributes to the care of people entrusted to us. Those who feel overlooked may take courage from David's beginning among the sheep. God sees faithful labor and remains free to assign service according to his wisdom.
Reflection & Prayer
What present responsibility can we receive as a place for faithful service before God? Consider how integrity of heart and practical skill might grow there together. Prayer: God who chose David your servant, make us faithful in the work before us, and teach us to care wisely for the people placed within our reach.