“Skillful Hands”

Psalm 78: 70, 72: “He also chose David His servant, and took him from the sheepfolds; so He shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them with his skillful hands.” Although the sweet singer of Israel is commonly criticized for his “many” failures, the Lord here accredits King David with spiritual integrity and shepherding skill. Unlike Jereboam, who led the people of Israel forever into idolatry (1 Kings 12: 27-33), David turned the people’s heart back to the worship of God and spearheaded the building of the temple. We do well to remember St. Paul’s epitaph of Israel’s greatest king: “He served the purpose of God in his own generation.” (Acts 13: 36).