The Shepherd Is an Image of the Good Shepherd

We should resist overly simplistic, single, singular explanations of what shepherd is and means. Shepherding has a rich, old testament background to the patriarchs, jacob, who is a shep and to israel, as shepherds in egypt and in the wilderness. And so with david, the shepherding image in the bible takes on messianic meaning. The good shepherd doesn't gain while the sheep lose. He's happy as they're happy. He's joyful as they're joyful.