Psalm 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.
I was told the story that years ago there were two neighbor boys on the way home after an event, moving towards the little town of Trail, Ohio. The well-trained horse became extremely chaotic after it was hitched and was suddenly of a totally different nature for some unknown reason. It was almost completely out of control. His nature was so absurdly different that they questioned whether they had hitched the wrong horse to their buggy. They could not hold back the horse as it even blew through stop signs causing grave danger!
After a wild, chaotic ride for several miles, both boys took the reins that attach to the sides of the bridle and strong-armed the head of the horse to the point that one of the boys could jump off as they passed his homestead. They were hoping that the horse would get tired and lose its strength by the time they came to the final destination. The tumultuous ride continued until they crashed through the home barn doors and the wooden buggy was nothing but a pile of rubble. Happily the driver was not hurt and ran inside the barn till he caught the horse and brought him under control. What was the problem with this disorderly animal? After looking for answers, he noticed that the bit was never put in the mouth of the horse.
David gives us instruction on what guides a horse or a mule. The instruction is clear that when we have no understanding about the direction in which we are headed, we are on dangerous premises. If the bit and the bridle is our guiding principle we have no understanding.
There are many situations that we pass through in life that require understanding. Many times throughout my life I’ve asked the Lord for understanding on why I tend to have certain problems.
Here are some questions we need in order to inquire for understanding:
• What is it that discourages me?
• Why do I avoid certain issues?
• Why are certain issues more sensitive to me?
• Why are some temptations harder to resist?
• Why do some people seek to harm me?
• Why me, Lord?
• Why do I tend to avoid certain people?
• Why am I more reactionary towards certain things?
• Am I going through punishment or pruning?
Many personal questions arise in the believer’s heart that need tended to by way of understanding from the Lord. Do not neglect it with imaginations.
Understanding will replace the need for a bit and a bridle. When you have the understanding from the one who knows all things, you will not need a bit to hold in your mouth. How many times have you said: I will not bring that up again nor will I think about it anymore? The next thing you know, that is seemingly all you are thinking about again. Understanding brings things to rest every time. Have we not heard that most problems come from misunderstandings, which no one is excluded from, not even the wisest?
It was Solomon who asked the Lord for understanding to discern judgment, rather than long life, riches, or the lives of his enemies; God gave him understanding, which is filled with wisdom. God made him the wisest man on earth.
We are also carefully instructed not to lean on our own understanding. When we ask God for understanding, He will enlighten us in due time. Once we understand, it will rest. If it does not rest in the heart, it was not enlightenment from the Holy Spirit nor does it come from spiritual understanding from the Lord. I want to repeat that spiritual understanding will always rest and not be troubled. Entanglements and frustrations simply cease. Spiritual understanding is always enlightening and never darkened imagination.
Job 28:28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
Psalm 119:130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
Proverbs 2:11 Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:
Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
