Muslims might argue that the shepherd mentioned in the Old Testament refers to God Himself, not a human Messiah.

In the Old Testament, the imagery of a shepherd is used to describe both God and the future Messiah. For instance, Ezekiel 37:24-25 explicitly states that 'My servant David shall be king over them,' indicating a human leader who will shepherd the people. This suggests a dual role where God, as the ultimate shepherd, appoints a human shepherd to lead His flock. Furthermore, the prophecies in Ezekiel 34:23-25 reinforce this idea by stating that God will appoint 'one shepherd' who is 'My servant David.' This is understood to be a reference to the Messiah, who is a descendant of David, thus linking the divine shepherding role to a specific human figure. Additionally, Isaiah 40:9-11 portrays God as a shepherd who gathers His flock, but this does not negate the role of the Messiah. Instead, it complements it, as the Messiah acts under God's authority to fulfill His promises. The New Testament identifies Jesus as this Messiah, who embodies both the divine and human aspects of shepherding. Therefore, the claim that the shepherd refers solely to God overlooks the specific messianic prophecies that indicate a human shepherd will arise to lead Israel, fulfilling God's plan for His people.