Am I Being a Mule?
Am I Being a Mule?
[Posted August 18, 2022]
Hi Mike,
I am writing because I stumbled upon a passage that cut my heart open. The passage is in Psalm 32:9.
Psa 32:9 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.
It seems I have been like the mule many times, and then I get so scared sometimes that I’m doing something the LORD warned us not to be like or do. This is an instruction, and I felt like I’m that mule which the Lord is somehow “vexed” with due to acting like someone with no understanding at times despite the privileged understanding of His word He has given me. This verse scares me.
What do you think? Can we be the mule, and what does it mean to held with bit and bridle? Is the LORD going to do that? The fact that the lord warns against it shows it must be painful. It seems like I’m at that stage – not been able to appreciate the knowledge God has given me compared to the churches of Babylon and acting like the very stubborn mule. This made me think about the warning of 1 Corinthians 10 also. I have prayed that God will have mercy, and I hope He gives me grace to march on to perfection not laying the foundation of repentance from dead works. The fact that the LORD warns in such a way in that verse made me decide to send this.
Thanks,
A____
Hi A____,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts about:
Psa 32:9 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.
You say this verse scares you because you find yourself “acting like someone with no understanding at times despite the privileged understanding of His word He has given me.”
That is exactly what that verse in designed to do. Every admonition of scripture… don’t lie, cheat, steal, commit adultery, murder is designed to instill the fear of God within us. That is why we are told:
1Ti 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
1Ti 1:10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
1Ti 1:11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
As Christ grows within us, we don’t need to be told, “Do this, and don’t do that or you will get a spanking.” However, Christ’s growth within us takes time, and that is why you are ‘made afraid’ by this admonition to not be a mule.
Every man is “a mule” in his own time, and every man will grow out of that beastly condition. Read the rest of that chapter of Psalms:
Psa 32:10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.
Psa 32:11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.
Whether you are wicked or righteous and upright in heart, it is a work of the Lord (Gen 45:4-8, Rom 7:17-23) for your good (Rom 8:28). So “trust in the Lord [and] His mercy will compass [you] about.”
Remember and take great comfort in the Truth that the Lord is working all things after the counsel of His own will for your good. This includes being afraid of being a mule with no understanding. That fear is a necessary evil to being about His purpose in your life:
Rom 8:27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Your brother who struggles with you,
Mike