“He also chose David His servant and took him from the sheepfolds; from the care of the ewes with suckling lambs 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 with his skillful hands” (Psalm 78:70-72).
“I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep” (John 10:14-15).
Shepherd David was taken from the sheepfolds to be a shepherd to God’s people. As King David, this is exactly what he did. Psalm 78 recounts that King David shepherded Israel with integrity and skill.
The shepherd theme often comes up in the Psalms that David wrote. The most famous of which is Psalm 23, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” Shepherd David was a prototype for a greater good shepherd to come.
John chapter 10 is a tender message from Jesus identifying Himself as the good shepherd. In verses 1 to 11, the shepherd themes that emerge are: the shepherd enters by the door, the sheep hear My voice, I call My sheep by name, I lead them out, they follow because they know My voice, I guard the door to the sheep, I give abundant life to My sheep. And finally, “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep” (John 10:11).
The ultimate love of Jesus, the good shepherd, for His sheep was on display when He gave up His life for His sheep. If you have believed the gospel message of Jesus Christ, you are one of His sheep. And He will lead you to the safety and provision that you long for.
Jesus was present in the sheep fields, because Jesus was there from the beginning!