Psalm 32:8-9 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. 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.
How are you responding to God’s guidance for your life? Here we find a wonderful promise of God for guidance. He wants to guide us according to His plan and purposes. But also sets a pre-condition for us.
Lord says not to be like horse and mule. What is the specialty of these two animals that God dislikes? We know generally these two animals are initially wild and they are domesticated. The master need a bit and bridle in order to guide them. They do not understand their master’s will, but they always must be harnessed to be controlled. And the Lord warns us here “Do not be like them!”
So what is God asking from us?
God is asking us not to be behaving like the horse or mule in rebellion who, without a bit and bridle, cannot be guided into the desired direction.
God wants us to be obedient to Him. When we obey God, He guides us according to His plan and purposes.
In this process of guidance
“Our part is” – We must come to God, giving ourselves to him, and obey his guidance.
“God’s part” – He promises to instruct, teach, counsel and watch over us.
God does not want to control our lives with a bit and bridle. God wants us to respond to His voice. And so God uses another animal to describe our relationship with Him. Rather than being like a horse or mule, He encourages us to be like a sheep.
John 10:27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
The important qualities of the sheep:
-Sheep listen to the shepherd’s voice.
-Sheep is guided by his shepherd.
-There is a close relationship between shepherd and sheep. The sheep knows his master’s voice.
And this is exactly the type of relationship that Jesus wants between Him and you. Out of this kind of relationship God wants to direct your footsteps. we should be obedient to give ourselves more and more to Him. Out of our relationship, our God will direct our footsteps.
