Psalm 32:9 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 32:7-11

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, Ps. 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. Safety: ?Thou art my hiding-place; when by faith I have recourse to thee I see all the reason in the world to be easy, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 32:9

Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding ,.... The design of this exhortation is to direct men how to behave under the instructions given; not as brutes, which have no rational faculties, but as men; that they should not show themselves thoughtless, stupid, and unteachable, as these animals, or worse than they; nor stubborn and obstinate, refractory and untractable, resolving not to be taught, stopping the ear, and pulling away the shoulder; nor ill natured and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 32:9

Be ye not as the horse or as the mule - They will only act by force and constraint; be not like them; give a willing service to your Maker. "They have no understanding;" you have a rational soul, made to be guided and influenced by reason. The service of your God is a reasonable service; act, therefore, as a rational being. The horse and the mule are turned with difficulty; they must be constrained with bit and bridle. Do not be like them; do not oblige your Maker to have continual recourse... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 32:9

Verse 9 9.Be not like the horse or mule. David now briefly explains the amount of the counsel which he formerly said he would give. He exhorts all to learn with quietness, to lay aside stubbornness, and to put on the spirit of meekness. There is much wisdom, too, in the advice which he gives to the godly to correct their hardihood; for if we were as attentive to God’s corrections as we ought, every one would eagerly hasten to seek his favor. Whence is so much slowness to be found in all, but... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 32:1-11

The last word of the title, "Maschil," is thought to mean that the psalm was intended for instruction, warning, or admonition; the word maschil , or rather maskil , being formed from askil ," to instruct"—the opening word of the eighth verso—used also in Psalms 2:10 ; Psalms 53:2 , etc. There are thirteen psalms thus inscribed, all more or less of a didactic character. Rhythmically, the psalm seems to be composed of six strophes, each of two verses; but in the third... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 32:1-11

Divine forgiveness. This psalm is one of those historically established as David's. £ It has long been a favourite with the greatest saints, who are the very ones that own themselves the greatest sinners. Luther referred to it as one of his special psalms. So Dr. Chalmers, who, it is said, could scarcely read its first three verses without tears filling his eyes. The compression necessary to keep this work within moderate limits renders it impossible to do more than point out how it... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 32:6-11

The attitude of the penitent. Because of the grace thus vouchsafed to every penitent, David would encourage all the godly to seek him who deals so graciously with sinners. Out of his past and present experience he will now counsel others, and especially those who are still impenitent, and the tenor of his counsel is that they should not, like brutes, refuse submission till they are forced into it. The passage may be divided into two parts: I. THE ATTITUDE OF THE FORGIVEN ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 32:8-9

St. Jerome, and others after him, including Dr. Kay, have regarded this passage as an utterance of God, who first admonishes David, and then passes on to an admonition of the Israelites generally. But such a sudden intrusion of a Divine utterance, without any notice of a change of speaker, is without parallel in the Psalms, and should certainly not be admitted without some plain necessity. Here is no necessity at all. The words are quite suitable in the mouth of David, as an admonition to the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 32:9

Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding . The singular is exchanged for the plural, since the "instruction" is now intended, not for the godly man only, but for all. Israel had been always stiff-necked ( Exodus 32:9 ; Exodus 33:3 , Exodus 33:5 ; Exodus 34:9 ; Deuteronomy 9:6 , Deuteronomy 9:13 ; Deuteronomy 10:16 ; 2 Chronicles 30:8 ; Acts 7:51 ), like a restive horse or mule. David exhorts them to be so no more. The horse and mule are excusable,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 32:9

Be ye not as the horse - The horse as it is by nature - wild, ungoverned, unwilling to be caught and made obedient. The counsel referred to in the previous verse is here given; and it is, that one who wishes to obtain the favor of God should not be as the wild and unbroken horse, an animal that can be subdued only by a curb, but should evince a calm, submissive spirit - a spirit “disposed” to obey and submit. If he becomes a subject of God’s government, he is not to be subdued and held as the... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 32:7-11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 32:9

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 32:9

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 32:9

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 32:1-11

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 32:1-11

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 32:6-11

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 32:8-9

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 32:9

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 32:9

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