How do we know the doctrine of God as our shepherd is true?

The truth of God as our shepherd is substantiated by scripture across both the Old and New Testaments. Psalm 23 explicitly presents God as a shepherd who provides guidance, sustenance, and protection to His people. David's personal testimony, 'The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want,' illustrates the confidence believers can have in God's provision and care. Furthermore, the prophetic nature of such imagery finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. In John 10:11, Christ declares, 'I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep,' reinforcing the doctrinal commitment that God actively shepherds His people.

This doctrine assures Christians of God's unwavering commitment to nurture and protect them. It is echoed in prophetic passages like Ezekiel 34, which speaks to God's promise to raise up a true shepherd who will tend to His flock. Consequently, this doctrine is not only a comforting metaphor but a foundational truth about God's relationship with His people, confirmed through the entirety of scripture and Christ's sacrificial love.