Psalm 32:9 Be you not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle… I. A PRIVILEGE TO BE SOUGHT. 1. This guidance is very full in its nature. (1) God is prepared to give you an inward understanding of spiritual things; for His instruction is intensely effectual upon the mind. (2) God adds the precept to the doctrine, and instructs us in both. (3) Here is fellowship as well as instruction; for the guide goes with the traveller, and thus will God, in the process of our instruction, give us fellowship with Himself. 2. This teaching is divine in its source. Our Lord may instruct us by men who are taught of Himself; but, after all, the best of His servants cannot teach us anything profitably except the Lord Himself teaches by them and through them. What a wonderful condescension it is that the Lord should become a teacher! 3. Observe how wonderfully personal is this promised guidance. The Infinite focusses Himself upon the insignificant! 4. This teaching is delightfully tender. 5. This teaching is constant. II. A CHARACTER TO BE AVOIDED. 1. We are not to imitate creatures of which we are the superiors. One said, in my hearing, as an excuse for a passionate speech, "I could not help it. If you tread on a worm it will turn." Is a worm to be the example for a saint? 2. We must mind that we do not imitate creatures to whom we are so near akin. A large part of us is animal, and its tendency is to drag down that part which is more than angelic. How abject, and yet how august is man! Brother go the worm, and yet akin to Deity. Immortal and yea a child of dust. Be ye not the prey of your lower natures. 3. We are not to imitate creatures devoid of reason. Be sensitive to the Spirit of God. "Give me understanding and I shall keep Thy law." III. As INFLICTION TO BE ESCAPED. DO not drive your Saviour to be stern with you. Do not choose the way of hardness — the brutish way. "Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding," for then you will become sad, gloomy, dull, stupid, and full of disquietude. IV. A FREEDOM TO BE ATTAINED. There are children of God who wear no bit or bridle: the Lord has loosed their bonds. To them obedience is delight: they keep His commands with their whole heart. The Son has made them free, and they are free indeed. 1. They are free, because they are in touch with God. God's will is their will. They answer to the Lord as the echo to the voice. 2. Because tutored. 3. Because always trusting. 4. Because tender. ( C. H. Spurgeon.) Parallel Verses KJV: Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee. |
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