Psalm 23:1

The image of God as a shepherd appears in Jacob for the first time. In Genesis 48:15 it says: “He (Jacob) blessed Joseph and said, “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day.”

When David was chosen, he was set up to be the people’s shepherd. In 2 Samuel 5:1-2 it says: “All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, … “The LORD said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.’”

In Psalm 23, David describes God as a shepherd. God is his example for his own life. He wants to be inspired by God.

About 250 years later Isaiah also writes about God as the shepherd (Isaiah 40).

About 150 years later, Ezekiel writes about God as the good shepherd (Ezekiel 34:5-16).