As mentioned in the previous post, "One interesting thing about reading or memorizing the Scripture is how different translations word a particular phrase or idea." This time we will see what might be a troubling disparity in the translations.
We will focus on verse 9 here,
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. (KJV)
NASB renders it:
Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding, Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, Otherwise they will not come near to you.
God is cautioning David and us not to be merely brute animals that are controlled and guided by a bit in the mouth and a bridle on our heads. For those who do not know, a bit is a piece of metal attached to the bridle and to the reins by which the rider turns and stops the animal.
On a less well trained mount, the rider literally pulls the head around in the direction to which he desires to go. Leaning one rein on the side of the animal's neck, prompts him to turn away from the rein as the rider directs. A tap on the left side, means turn right. (This is called "reining." Cowboy talk.)
Pulling back on both reins tells the horse or mule to stop. Our earlier comments explored the highly trained responses to "My eye" that the Lord is urging us to pursue. David, in particular, but probably not uniquely, OCCASIONALLY had to have the "reins" pulled very savagely. It hurts. Recall verses 3 and 4.
The Heavenly Rider intends for us to be trained to follow His Eye or Will in order to live a life that is pleasing to Him. It is more comfortable and more rewarding. We can literally understand what He is doing and not blindly follow the directions applied to our mouths or necks.
The horse does not "understand" what is happening. The cowboy may be riding the fences, or looking for strays, or moving a herd from one pasture to another. All the horse knows is to respond to the guidance of the reins and bridle. And "mules" do not want to know what you want. They often just balk just to exert their mulishness. "Don't be like a mule...."
The final phrase is explanatory and/or precautionary. And, at first glance, they seem to be contradictory. "Lest they come near you," (KJV) seems to indicate that this is to keep them from "running over" someone. NASB says, "Otherwise they will not come near you." Just the opposite. Horsemen are often depicted as walking out to the corral or remuda and roping the horse that they will ride for the day or task. Less often, when the horse is familiar with, and seems to like the rider, they will come with a call or whistle. (The Lone Ranger called Silver with a special whistle. I think Roy Rogers called Trigger.)
So which is it? Does the horse "run over" or "run away from" the rider? Again, Bible Gateway helps. A few translations copy the King James "lest," while some just leave that phrase completely out,. A majority use or rephrase "otherwise." So which is it? And does it matter?
From experience, some horses will come to the owner willingly, while others shy away and must be compelled, by a rope or by cornering them. And occasionally a horse will literally attack someone. It happened to me when I was about 8 or 10. I was carrying a bucket of grain for them and one of our oldest and most docile animals became impatient with my speed and literally took a chunk out of my shoulder. I wanted her to be kept away from me after that.
But that does not address the verse. Did I mention that I love Biblegateway? It has multiple translations that help to clarify understanding. The New English Translation (NET) comes to our aid. Recall, "Don't be like the horse or like the mule...
"which will not obey you unless they are controlled by a bridle and bit." NET
So whether we want the horse to come or stay away, the harness provides us that control. And the Lord's point is however we want the animals to act should give us pause in relation to how we respond to His "commands." Whether we "go" or "stay," our actions should come from understanding the way He wants us to go. (Verse 8)
The focus is on the control, whether it is "lest they come near you," or "else they will not come near you." It is not contradictory, it is expanding our understanding–until we find the NET version.
When we let the Lord be our "guide" we will not go wrong or uncover contradictions. I will follow.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+32&version=NASB
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+32&version=NKJV
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