Psalm 32:9 Do not be like the horse or like the mule, which have no understanding, which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, else they will not come near you.
We have an intelligence created by God, a spirit and soul which understands and communes with God and we have self-awareness – we know who we are, where we have come from, and where we are going.
So, for such an intelligent species, why do we need so much prodding, poking and reminding when it comes to the really important things in life such as – receiving from God’s Word, spending times of refreshing and direction through prayer and turning up to church each week to hear God’s anointed Word being preached/imparted into our spirits.
King David says it a little more bluntly than me…
Don’t be like the horse or the donkey, which have no understanding and therefore need to be harnessed with a bit and a bridle.
They need to be led everywhere they go. They cannot figure it out for themselves. King David is saying don’t lower yourself to the level of a mule… be the creation of God you were created to be! Don’t be someone that has to be constantly chased up by your pastor or leader or concerned friend because you haven’t been to church or connect group for a while.
When people are always following you up, out of genuine love and concern, that means one thing – you are still a ‘baby Christian’. You still need to have a bit and bridle put on so you can be led to the truly important things in life.
Disciples don’t need the bit and bridle, they live through spiritual rest and revelation by the Holy Spirit. They know where they need to be each weekend when church is starting. They know what they need to be reading and feeding upon every day – God’s Word. They know the benefits and blessings through praying daily in the Spirit.
David concludes this psalm with some of these blessings and benefits…
Vs 7 …we are preserved in the day of trouble
Vs 8 …we are instructed and guided by God’s Spirit
Vs 10 …mercy surrounds those whose trust is in God
As a Pastor who has counseled hundreds of leaders and believers, it’s amazing what the root cause of so many issues always comes back to…
It’s a lack of commitment and/or consistency in the spiritual graces of church attendance; receiving from the Word and prayer. The absence of these graces causes us to become works driven, trying to deal with everything ourselves. This only produces the fruit of worry, stress, and anxiety.
But when a Believer is fellowshipping consistently, feeding upon and hearing the Word preached consistently, has an active prayer life including prayer meetings with other Believers, then as David says, we are preserved in the day of trouble, guided by the Lord’s Spirit and surrounded by His mercies and peace.