Written by Paul J Bucknell on May, 14, 2019

Psalm 32:8-9 Meditations on God’s Will

Looking for God’s Directions? Twelve reflections from Psalm 32:8-9 provide different angles on understanding God’s will for our lives.

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you.” (Psalm 32:8-9 ESV)

#1 Slow to Depend on Him

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” It is Jehovah, our Lord, who graciously promises to teach and guide us. Why are we so slow to depend on His leading?

#2 Need for Instruction

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you…” Our dire need for instruction and training persists throughout life.

#3 Danger of Self-confidence

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you…” If we are not hungering for instruction, self-confidence will assuredly threaten our spiritual welfare and interfere with our ministry.

#4 Finding Clear Guidance

Good teaching “teach(es) you in the way you should go,” and therefore can be trusted. It is not grades or being people-conscious but being God-conscious.

#5 God Shares the Future

God is very conscious of our future and wants to share His insights with us! “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go.” Think of the insight we can gain from the Lord.

#7 Make God your Counselor

Need advise, counsel, or help in making decisions? The Lord is here! “I will counsel you.”

#8 God’s Means of Counseling

The fact of God’s ability to teach and counsel us greatly differs from the methods of the world. How does the Lord teach us?

#9 Ignorance is Catchy

Do we regularly place ourselves in teachable situations such as when you might wait at a bus stop? “Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding.”

#10 Unwillingness to Examine

How insightful to compare our unwillingness to turn from our lame ignorance with a stubborn horse and mule. We not only sin but resist turning from our own wicked ways, keeping us in the darkness.

#11 Admit Your Need for Constraint

No one likes discipline, but it works. Without self-constraint, we will suffer extra harsh-feeling controls. “Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle.”