The Horse and the Mule

Psalms 32:9 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.

The horse and the mule are shown here to have three characteristics undesirable in a man:

They have no understanding

That is they do not reason as men are able to do. It should be that reason is the only force necessary to conquer a man. Government was created because man, with his sin nature, acts more often that the majority would like, as a brute and not with reason.

They must be controlled through a bit

The government serves as the bit and bridle reining in the sin nature to bring it into submission. It must not be so in the realm of the spirit. No amount of external coercion can tame the spiritual side of man. That must be quickened by the Holy Spirit and brought into submission through willful obedience to the Word of God.

They resist coming near a man

And so the carnal man, like fallen Adam, flees from the sound of God's voice.

Of course all of these characteristics in the horse can and have been trained out of them.

• They can be taught to perform
• They can be taught to perform without a bridle and bit and
• They can be friendly enough to come quickly to stand by a man

The appeal of the passage then is to draw nigh to the Lord; allow the reason and understanding of God to reign in our soul and be wise in spiritual instruction rather than worldly rebellion.