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.
David shows us that true happiness rests on one thing alone: God's free forgiveness of our guilt and full acceptance of our persons. Without this reconciliation, men either writhe in torment or drift into deadly forgetfulness of both God and themselves, unable to imagine that He could be gracious to them at all.
AI summary
Commenting on Psalm 32:1-11
Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding. Understanding separates man from a brute—let us not act as if we were devoid of it. Men should take counsel and advice, and be ready to run where wisdom points them the way. Alas! we need to be cautioned against stupidity of heart, for we are very apt to fall into it.
David is here improving the experience he had had of the comfort of pardoning mercy. I. He speaks to God, and professes his confidence in him and expectation from him, Psa 32:7. Having tasted the sweetness of divine grace to a penitent sinner, he cannot doubt of the continuance of that grace to a praying saint, and that in that grace he should find both safety and joy. 1.
Commenting on Psalm 32:7-11