Psalm 32:9
9 Be ye not as the horse [cuwc], or as the mule [pered],
which have no understanding [biyn]: whose mouth
[`adiy] must be held [balam] in with bit [metheg] and
bridle [recen], lest [bal] they come near [qarab] unto
thee. KJV-Interlinear
9 Do
not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding, Whose trappings
include bit and bridle to hold them in check, Otherwise they will not come near
to you. NASB
Israel has constantly
been referred to as a stiff necked people, stubborn and resistant toward
listening to and obeying the principles and mandates of God. And likewise so
many people fail because they read just a little bit and go no further, resisting
and not pursuing further, the teachings of doctrine.
And the comparison is
made to horses and mules, and not tame animals, but wild ones, because they
have a mind of their own, which is a mind that lacks human intellect and
reason.
So, the animals have an
excuse for their behavior. It takes a
bridle and bit to control them, for in the wild, their very nature is to run
and evade capture, and not cooperate. So
they do only that which comes natural to them.
Man, on the other hand,
has no excuse. Man has intellect and
reason. Man can see the difference
between right and wrong. Man can decide
to reject right for wrong, or wrong for right as the case may be.
But again, in his natural
element, man is total depravity and will fail utterly, were it not for God and
Gods grace provisions.
Man has to be taught
right from wrong. Man cannot discover
those truths. Man has to be taught truth,
and from that develop understanding and wisdom.
Man cannot achieve understanding or wisdom on his own.
But with a spiritually
negative attitude, man is no better than the wild horse or stubborn mule. Today we have slang terms like calling
someone a dog or dumb as a rock, which it is all of a similar meaning, and not
too complimentary.
Refusal to learn or use
common sense becomes the epitome of stubbornness and stupidity.
Granted there are many
levels of intelligence in people in this world, and what some can understand,
not too many others can achieve that level of understanding.
But in the spiritual
life, God the Holy Spirit is the true instructor, and He makes truth clear and
perspicuous to everyone regardless of their talents or handicaps.
So, no one has any
excuse.
But everyone does have an
obligation to pursue truth in order to learn it and know it. And this is determined by their own decision
to want doctrine and to pursue it, or not.
Man has no excuse for not
advancing in his spiritual life. Only
man can prevent himself from advancing.
When people call you
names you can just ignore them because the names mean nothing.
But when God describes
you with some derogatory term, then you really need to sit up and take notice!
