This time the townspeople were very upset when they found out there was no wolf. But they sent him back again, with a very stern warning, not to let it happen again. But, of course, no sooner had he gotten back to the sheep than a wolf did come, and was taking advantage of the boy's absence to have a nice mutton dinner. We become fearful and anxious. We become distrustful.
Life is thrown out of perspective.
Then, when danger does come, it suddenly seems to us that we are forsaken, left to fend for ourselves. But Jesus says that he is the Good Shepherd. He is the real shepherd, who is true to his flock. In Israel, of course, ever since David, the shepherd was also a figure for the king. That is the kind of king we have.