Psalm 78 vs 52-72 - He led them like sheep

Read: Psalm 78 vs 52-72

The Bible uses picture language to describe what it means to be God’s people. One of the most striking images, used in both the Old and New Testaments, is the image of the flock. When God calls us into relationship with Himself His call is always personal. So for example you think of the words of Psalm 23: ‘The LORD is my shepherd’, or the story of the sheep owner in Luke 15 going in search of the one lost sheep. We rightly talk about Jesus as being ‘my Saviour’ and of us having a ‘personal relationship’ with the Lord.

However, the language of a ‘flock’, reminds us that when God calls us He calls us to be part of a group of people who belong to Him. We relate to God as part of His flock. Our wellbeing, our identity, and our relationship with Him, is tied up with how the whole flock is doing. It is a complete misunderstanding of who God is, and what He is doing, to imagine that we can go off alone with Him and have Him as our shepherd on our own. 

Psalm 78 vs 52 picks up the language of ‘the flock’ to describe how God continued to lead His people through the desert and into the Promised Land. However as this story rolled forward it continued to be a story of a wandering flock and of a rebellious flock. The reference to the setting up of ‘high places’ (vs 58) gives an example of how Israel, now in the land that God had given them, began to trust and worship other gods, ignoring the One who had safely led them to what was intended to be a place of safety and rest. 

Three times in this Psalm we read of God being ‘furious’ (vs 21, 59, 62), here is a verdict that leaves the whole flock accused and exposed.

We need a shepherd. Psalm 78 finishes with the good news that God has chosen a shepherd, here named as David (vs 72). In Luke 12:32 Jesus gathers His disciples around Him and He said: ‘Do not be afraid, little flock.’ Jesus has come to find us. But do remember it is ‘us’. Praying the Psalms encourages us to remember that we are part of a flock, and so praying that the whole flock will keep trusting, obeying and following the Shepherd is really important as we seek to follow Him.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, Good Shepherd, you have many sheep in Your flock. Thank for everyone in my local community who belongs to You. Please keep us obedient and faithful as we seek to follow You. Amen.