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You must be in fellowship prior to your Bible study, so that the spiritual information you receive can become a source, of blessing to your soul and produce spiritual growth. Psalm 32:9 http://www.dailybiblestudy.org
9 Be ye not as the horse [cuwc], or as the mule [pered], which have no understanding [biyn]: whose mouth [`adiy] must be held [balam] in with bit [metheg] and bridle [recen], lest [bal] they come near [qarab] unto thee. KJV-Interlinear
9 Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding, Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, Otherwise they will not come near to you. NASB
Israel has constantly been referred to as a stiff necked people, stubborn and resistant toward listening to and obeying the principles and mandates of God. And likewise so many people fail because they read just a little bit and go no further, resisting and not pursuing further, the teachings of doctrine. And the comparison is made to horses and mules, and not tame animals, but wild ones, because they have a mind of their own, which is a mind that lacks human intellect and reason. So, the animals have an excuse for their behavior. It takes a bridle and bit to control them, for in the wild, their very nature is to run and evade capture, and not cooperate. So they do only that which comes natural to them. Man, on the other hand, has no excuse. Man has intellect and reason. Man can see the difference between right and wrong. Man can decide to reject right for wrong, or wrong for right as the case may be. But again, in his natural element, man is total depravity and will fail utterly, were it not for God and Gods grace provisions. Man has to be taught right from wrong. Man cannot discover those truths. Man has to be taught truth, and from that develop understanding and wisdom. Man cannot achieve understanding or wisdom on his own. But with a spiritually negative attitude, man is no better than the wild horse or stubborn mule. Today we have slang terms like calling someone a dog or dumb as a rock, which it is all of a similar meaning, and not too complimentary. Refusal to learn or use common sense becomes the epitome of stubbornness and stupidity. Granted there are many levels of intelligence in people in this world, and what some can understand, not too many others can achieve that level of understanding. But in the spiritual life, God the Holy Spirit is the true instructor, and He makes truth clear and perspicuous to everyone regardless of their talents or handicaps. So, no one has any excuse. But everyone does have an obligation to pursue truth in order to learn it and know it. And this is determined by their own decision to want doctrine and to pursue it, or not. Man has no excuse for not advancing in his spiritual life. Only man can prevent himself from advancing. When people call you names you can just ignore them because the names mean nothing. But when God describes you with some derogatory term, then you really need to sit up and take notice!
End Of Lesson Study to show thyself approved (mature) unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (studying/discerning), the Word of truth. |
