If you’re at all like me you’ve spent no small amount of time asking God to lead, guide, and direct you in some particular situation. Maybe it’s been a job change, a decision about schooling, a relationship, or something else. And the frustrating part is that even when we are completely open to God simply taking us by the hand or telling us directly what to do, we usually don’t receive a miraculous “writing on the wall” (Dan 5). Why not?!Â
I have been challenged in the reading of Ps 32:8-9 to better discover how God DOES and DOES NOT lead us. Â
Psalm 32:8-9 reads, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.”Â
Three times in this passage God says that He will lead us (“instruct,” “teach,” & “counsel”). He promises to be our guide. He promises! But in describing the guidance which He guarantees, God gives a prohibition. He describes the manner of guidance which we are not to seek from Him. We are reminded that while animals like horses and mules have a simple brain, they lack a great-making quality—understanding.  And because of this, these dumb animals require a bit and bridle to be guided. God seems to be contrasting rather than comparing us to farm animals in this passage. Therefore, being led about like an animal is not the ideal for a life of Christian discipleship (a.k.a. following). Differing from the horse or mule, God’s crown of creation—humanity—has been given understanding. And it is by this gift which God seems to most often guide us.
WHAT THIS DOESN’T MEAN
Now, this doesn’t simply mean that whatever conclusions we come to in our reasoning is God’s will. We must remember that every facet of our beings (mind, will, emotions, etc.) has been bent and twisted by sin and the fall (Gen 3). This is why we are called by God to “renew our minds,” in order that we might be able to “test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing ad perfect will” (Rom 12:1-2).Â
The fact, then, that God does not lead us like we lead animals does not speak of God’s evasiveness in showing us His will, but rather reveals a great compliment which He has paid us. It is a compliment to our dignities as creatures made in His image. God desires to develop in us perfecting virtues like faith, hope, and love. However, these qualities can be built into us only as we learn to follow God not by bit and bridle, but with our understandings.Â
WHAT THIS DOES MEAN
God requires us to be invested in the decision making processes of life. He expects us to do the hard work of investigating, reasoning, and reflecting not just so that we will come to the right conclusions (though that is highly important), but also so that we will become certain kinds of people. The kinds of people who choose the good because of a love for the good. A horse or mule moves in certain directions because it is forced and then conditioned to do so. God wants us to learn certain directions by learning to love the direction and coming to know that it is a good direction. When I choose to be kind, or to forgive, or to be fair, I am becoming more like God, for He embodies each of these perfectly. When I choose to patiently wait for God rather than rashly rushing into a situation, I looking more like His Son, Jesus. I am learning to both say and mean, “Not my will, by Thy will.” I am behaving more like a son.
So, the next time you’re facing an important decision and God doesn’t seem to be dropping the answer into your lap, remember (1) how He has promised to guide you, and (2) why He usually insists upon this method of guidance.
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.” Psalm 32:8-9
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. What are other principles in Scripture which speak of how God promises to guide us?
2. How do you understand the way in which God guides us through our understanding?
3. What are ways that you have been changed or transformed as you’ve navigated through difficult decisions with God in the past?Â
4 Comments on “How God does NOT guide us (Ps 32:8-9)”
Your posting has very interesting timing. I’m currently in the process of making an important decision in my life and just a few days ago prayed the “Just please tell me what to do” prayer. Thanks Brent for helping me understand why God won’t just do that for me. God will help me discover the rationale for making the decision He wants me to make on my own. In a way, its much like a child learning through experience rather than by the commands of an over-protective parent.
Keith, thanks for your words. I’ll pray that God does provide you guidance in this important time of decision right now. Those are tough times, but they can shape us is such significant ways.
You might also be interested to check out another post from Jan 22 on “Decision makign and the will of God” (http://www.brentcunningham.org/?p=201).
Thanks, Keith.
Brent
At our new birth into Jesus we become activated spiritual beings. We must not totally rely on the soulish, natural process of thinking but recognize that the Holy Spirit of God can infiltrate our Spirit and give divine guidance. This has been my experience of life. The Holy Spirit can and does bring direction into our natural minds.
I, too, think that this blog is in good timing. My husband and I are facing a major change in our lives that is clearly led by God. Through several circumstances, we have decided (or more accurately), we have listened to God’s leadership in the decision to have my husband change careers. In order to do this, a great number of things in our lives must change, but as God leads us through these changes, the circumstances fall into place, and we feel peace instead of stress.