“Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock!” (Psalm 80:1)

Many of the Psalms and prophets refer to God as the Shepherd and themselves as His flock. This imagery was familiar to a people who raised sheep for generations. Their beloved King David was a shepherd as a boy, so this title became attached to the coming of the Davidic Messiah as well. So, when Jesus comes announcing himself as the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep, the flock of Israel should not have been surprised. After all, they had been praying for centuries that the Shepherd would “give ear” and listen to their cry.