“Quit Horsing Around” Psalm 32

The Bible is filled with reminders to look at the world around us and learn from the examples we find, such as… The ant is an example of industry and not procrastinating - Proverbs 6:6-11 There is wisdom to be learned in observation - Proverbs 30:24-28 24 There are four things which are little on the earth,       But they are exceedingly wise: 25 The ants are a people not strong, Yet they prepare their food in the summer; 26 The rock badgers[a] are a feeble folk,       Yet they make their homes in the crags; 27 The locusts have no king, Yet they all advance in ranks;        28 The spider[b] skillfully grasps with its hands,       And it is in kings’ palaces.

David tells us not to imitate the horse or the mule. Psalm 32:9  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.

I. Horsing Around Horses are admirable for their strength - Job 39:19-25 But it is not a strength to be relied upon - Psalm 33:16-17  16 No king is saved by the multitude of an army;          A mighty man is not delivered by great strength.  17 A horse is a vain hope for safety;          Neither shall it deliver any by its great strength. Horses were often caught in the wild, often were unmanageable and hence the warning - Psalm 32:9 3 Indeed,[a] we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. [James 3:3] 3 A whip for the horse, A bridle for the donkey,       And a rod for the fool’s back. [Prov. 26:3]

The problem is that because of their strength, they will often rush head long into things without thinking. Jeremiah 8:6-7 6 I listened and heard,       But they do not speak aright.       No man repented of his wickedness,       Saying, ‘What have I done?’       Everyone turned to his own course,       As the horse rushes into the battle.        7 “ Even the stork in the heavens       Knows her appointed times;       And the turtledove, the swift, and the swallow       Observe the time of their coming.  But My people do not know the judgment of the LORD.

 They act impulsively on their lusts - Jeremiah 5:8-9 8 They were like well-fed lusty stallions;       Every one neighed after his neighbor’s wife. 9 Shall I not punish them for these things?” says the LORD.  The problem this that they don’t see the restrictions as beneficial, only as something that needs to be cast off - Psalm 2:1-3  1 Why do the nations rage,          And the people plot a vain thing?  2 The kings of the earth set themselves,          And the rulers take counsel together,          Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, 3 “Let us break Their bonds in pieces          And cast away Their cords from us.”

God gives commands for the people’s good – Deut. 10 12 “And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to keep the commandments of the LORD and His statutes which I command you today for your good? God punished, again, for the people’s good - Jer 32 38 They shall be My people, and I will be their God; 39 then I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me forever, for the good of them and their children after them. Following God’s laws brings blessings - James 1:25 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

II. Being Mule Headed Mules are notorious for their stubbornness. Stubbornness leads to sin - Pr 28:14 14 Happy is the man who is always reverent, But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity. A willfulness toward sin - Hebrews 10:26-27 26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Like a mule some people stubbornly cling to their sins - Romans 2:5 Like the horse, stubbornness must be broken - Prov 26:3 Either they bend, or they break - Proverbs 29:1

III. Submitting to God Rather than be wild, rebellious, or stubborn, we need to submit to the will to God - James 4:7-10 God doesn’t get pleasure from punishing people – Ezekiel 33:11 11 Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’ People don’t see the danger in rebellion or stubbornness, but God does - I Samuel 15:23

IV. God Is Willing To Forgive, But He Is Able To Punish Isaiah 1:18-20 18 “ Come now, and let us reason together,”       Says the LORD,       “ Though your sins are like scarlet,       They shall be as white as snow;       Though they are red like crimson,       They shall be as wool.        19 If you are willing and obedient,       You shall eat the good of the land;        20 But if you refuse and rebel,       You shall be devoured by the sword”;       For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Conclusion Which destiny will be for you? Are we going to continue horsing around or being mule headed? Or will we present to God a broken and contrite heart?