The Bad Taste of Bit and Bridle

“I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. 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.” (Ps 32:8-9 AV)

There are two choices here.  To be led by the eye of the LORD or be led by restraints like a domesticated animal.  The Psalm is regarding the failures of David and his confessions of them.  He is agonizing over these sins and finally confesses them.  The trouble in his heart is the guilt he feels while harboring these sins within.  He is finally relieved of the internal strife by the act of confession and repentance.  Upon this the LORD gives the above advice.  It is better to be led about when we choose to be led about than to be forced to be led about like an undomesticated animal. 

I love dogs.  They are very special animals to me.  Outside of a horse, I don’t think there is another animal that can connect with his human owner like a dog.  All of the dogs I have owned have come from a shelter.  That is, except for one.  Camo, a fox hound mix, came to us as a pup.  He was all hunting dog.  Not the best breed to have as an indoor pet.  He was a bit high strung and aggressive so we got a second dog to try to balance out the personality issues.  This second was a lab/blue heeler mix.  It was rather funny to watch then interact because the fox hound was focused on hunting.  He would lay at the back-patio door and stare at the birds feeding at the feeder.  He was intently focused on them and the occasional rabbit all day long.  The lab wanted to socialize and play.  Anyway, their personalities were extremely different.  Camo, the fox hound, had to be on a leash at all times and even though he was leashed trained, if a bird or rabbit made an appearance, his nature exploded into pursuit.  The lab, not so much.  He could be guided with a look.  His name was Kimber.  The best dog I have ever had.  A head nod and glance would send him to a corner to lay down.  A glance to his food dish would give him liberty to eat.  A look of disapproval would send him to his house.  A glance of comfort calmed him when storms blew in.  He was so in-tuned with his owner that a simple glance would be all that was needed. The desire to please is what drove him.

The LORD is reminding us that life is better when we willingly follow Him.  Life is much harder when we are forced into it be the circumstances that bind us.  Camo never was a contented and happy dog.  Kimber was all contentment.  The LORD has designed His creation to be happiest when they are in submission.  Not just in forced submission.  Rather, surrendered submission as an act of the will is what makes us the most contented and secure of all.