“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
There is a disagreement as to whether the shift in point of view here is the Lord who “will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go,” or David who has taken on the role of a teacher. I lean toward the latter as it seems to fit the context more agilely. As king, David is the covenant head and shepherd of the people of Israel. It is his job to feed the people with the truth and justice of God’s word.
“He chose David his servant and took him from the sheepfolds; from following the nursing ewes he brought him to shepherd Jacob his people, Israel his inheritance. With upright heart he shepherded them and guided them with his skillful hand.” -Psalm 78:70–72
In any case, the reader, or listening congregant, is being instructed to not be stubborn when it comes to confessing one’s sin to God. They are encouraged to learn from David’s testimony and not act like an animal that has to be coerced “with bit and bridle” to do what is right and good. If the one who has sinned rejects understanding, it won’t take long before understanding, wisdom, and knowledge rejects the unrepentant sinner.
Let us take heed also to David’s son, Solomon:
“Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you. Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded, because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices. For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”” -Proverbs 1:20–33