Bits And Bridles

Psalm 32

Attempting to ride or even being around an untamed horse can be dangerous.  To bring a wild stallion under control the horse trainers put a bit in his mouth and a bridle around his head and neck.  A dangerous dog will have a muzzle put over his mouth and be on a very short leash, and a fractious bull is kept in line with a cattle prod.  What about when a believing Christian gets away from God’s will, falling into sin and disobedience? In our psalm for today, King David describes one such occasion in his own life.  Let’s take a look at what he says, and see what we can learn.

Both Psalm 32 and Psalm 51 were written following the occasion when David committed adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of one of his generals.  Then when he heard she was pregnant, he had her husband killed at the front lines of battle. A horrible sin, which David tried to ignore for many months.  Psalm 32 describes how he felt during those months of hiding his sin. It also tells of the joy and relief we feel when we do turn to God, confessing the sin, and receiving His forgiveness.

Coming to God, asking for and receiving His forgiveness will bring us true joy.  That is the only way to relieve the guilt one feels. David expressed the real joy he felt when he confessed his sins and received God’s forgiveness.  God wants to forgive our sins, if only we come to Him in repentance and ask for forgiveness (vs. 1-2).  It is part of His nature.

For a while following his adultery with Bathsheba, and then ordering the death of her husband Uriah, David tried to ignore his sin.  He married her and she gave birth to his baby. Outwardly everything seemed fine. However inwardly his sin was making him sick (vs. 3-4).  God was not going to ignore this trespass, and as long as David refused to repent, He was not going to leave David alone. God would have to use a bit and bridle, a cattle prod on David until he would confess.

Finally David came to his senses, confessing and repenting of this sin (vs. 5).  When we refuse to confess our sins to the Lord, we can end up feeling miserable, weak, discouraged, and ultimately isolated from God.  We need to repent from our sins because it destroys our closeness and relationship with Him. To confess our sins means to agree with God, acknowledging that He is right in declaring that what we’ve done is sinful, and that we are wrong in desiring to do it.  Confessing also includes intending to abandon that sin, and following God more faithfully.

Some believers, rather than letting God guide them throughout their lives, acting stubbornly and going their own way (vs. 8-9).  If God wants to keep them useful for Him, He must use discipline and punishment. An untrained horse must have bits and bridles to guide them because otherwise they fight against the directions of the trainer.  The Bible uses these examples of how some animals need to be brought under when stubborn as an example of a stubborn, sinful person (Proverbs 26:3; James 3:3). If we refuse to submit to God’s commands He may have to use a measure of adversity to guide us to do His will.  God wants us to willingly come to Him and obey, not fight against His will. God would rather guide us with His love and wisdom.

David continues on, telling us to be spending time with God in prayer (vs. 6).  We should not use prayer as a last resort, when all else we’ve tried has failed.  We need to pray before the storms of life come, at all times, and in all situations.  God is our hiding place, a refuge for us when we need safety from trouble (vs. 7).  He surrounds us with songs and shouts of deliverance when we need to be rescued (vs. 11).

God’s eye is always on us (vs. 8).  His eye is a loving, caring one, providing all we need, and protecting us.  The Lord is willing and able to guide us if we will let Him. He will lead us along life’s path with a steady and sure hand.  Our part is to follow in obedience, and not make a bit or bridle necessary.