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:
Now go and tell my servant David this message: 'This is what the LORD Almighty says: I took you from the sheep pen, from taking care of sheep, to make you the ruler over my people Israel.'
God is reminding David that He lifted him from being a simple shepherd to becoming the king of Israel.
📚 Historical Context
This verse is part of God's response through the prophet Nathan after David expressed his desire to build a temple for God. At this time, David had established Jerusalem as his capital and brought the ark of the covenant there, and he was feeling uncomfortable living in a palace while God's ark remained in a tent. God is recounting David's humble beginnings as a shepherd boy in Bethlehem before being anointed as king.
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