https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Quit-Horsing-Around.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n\tby Jeffrey W. Hamilton<\/p>\n\t
Text: Psalms 32<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nI. The Bible is filled with reminders to look at the world around us and learn from the\nexamples we find.\n
A. The ant is an example of industry and not procrastinating – Proverbs 6:6-11<\/p>\n
B. Job recommended – Job 12:7-10<\/p>\n
C. There is wisdom to be learned in observation – Proverbs 30:24-28<\/p>\n D. Yet, not all examples are worthy of following. Just as you would not follow the\nexample of everyone around you, the example of some animals are not worthy of\nimitation.\n
E. David tells us not to imitate the horse or the mule – Psalms 32:9<\/p>\n
II. Horsing Around<\/p>\n
A. Horses are admirable for their strength – Job 39:19-25<\/p>\n
B. But it is not a strength to be relied upon – Psalms 33:16-17<\/p>\n C. Horses were often caught in the wild, often were unmanageable and hence the\nwarning – Psalms 32:9\n 1. Horses often only give service when constrained and forced into doing so –\nJames 3:3\n 2. Israel was often like that. God had to use force to get use out of them –\nJeremiah 31:18\n
3. Foolish people are like that as well – Proverbs 26:3<\/p>\n
4. Rebellious, requiring strong control<\/p>\n D. The problem is that because of their strength, they will often rush head long into\nthings without thinking – Jeremiah 8:6-7\n
1. Like Israel, they don’t always use their heads – Jeremiah 4:22<\/p>\n
2. People rush into sins without thought – Isaiah 59:7<\/p>\n 3. It was the sin that kept Moses and Aaron out of the promised land –\nNumbers 20:24\n a. The odd thing is that Moses in trying to deal with the rebellion of\nIsrael, in turn rushed headlong into rebellion – Numbers 20:8-12\n
b. The problem with rebellion is that those rebelling don’t think<\/p>\n
E. They act impulsively on their lusts – Jeremiah 5:7-9<\/p>\n F. The problem this that they don’t see the restrictions as beneficial, only as\nsomething that needs to be cast off – Psalms 2:1-3\n
1. Rejecting authority – Jude 8<\/p>\n
2. God gives commands for the people’s good – Deuteronomy 10:13<\/p>\n
3. God punished, again, for the people’s good – Jeremiah 32:39<\/p>\n
4. Following God’s laws brings blessings – James 1:25<\/p>\n
III. Being Mule Headed<\/p>\n
A. Mules are notorious for their stubbornness.<\/p>\n B. Have you heard someone say, “I know I shouldn’t do this, but I’m going to do it\nanyway?”\n
1. Stubbornness leads to sin – Proverbs 28:14<\/p>\n
2. A willfulness toward sin – Hebrews 10:26-27<\/p>\n
C. Stubbornly clinging to their lusts<\/p>\n
1. Like a donkey, thinking only of mating – Jeremiah 2:23-25<\/p>\n
2. Acting like brute beasts – Jude 10<\/p>\n
D. Like a mule, some people stubbornly cling to their sins – Romans 2:5<\/p>\n
E. Like the horse, stubbornness must be broken – Proverbs 26:3<\/p>\n
1. Either they bend, or they break – Proverbs 29:1<\/p>\n 2. That is basically what happened to Pharaoh when God demanded the\nrelease of the children of Israel. Pharaoh took the punishments, refused to\nbend, and eventually broke with his firstborn dead and his army drowned\nin the Red Sea.\n
IV. Submitting to God<\/p>\n A. Rather than be wild, rebellious, or stubborn, we need to submit a broken will to\nGod – James 4:7-10 \n
1. This is why God sent the children of Israel into captivity – Ezekiel 11:17-21<\/p>\n
B. It is never pleasant to “make” people do what is right – Hebrews 12:5-13<\/p>\n
C. This why people are asked to willingly follow the leadership – Hebrews 13:17<\/p>\n
D. God doesn’t get pleasure from punishing people – Ezekiel 33:11<\/p>\n E. People don’t see the danger in rebellion or stubbornness, but God does – I Samuel\n15:23\n 1. It is why rebellion and stubbornness were punished severely –\nDeuteronomy 21:18-21\n
V. God is willing to forgive, but He is able to punish – Isaiah 1:18-20<\/p>\n
A. Which destiny will be for you?<\/p>\n
B. Are you going to continue horsing around or being mule-headed?<\/p>\n
C. Or will you present to God a broken and contrite heart?<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 32 I. The Bible is filled with reminders to look at the world around us and learn from the examples we find. A. The ant is an example of industry and not procrastinating – Proverbs 6:6-11 B. Job recommended – Job 12:7-10 C. There is wisdom to be learned in observation –…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[119,32],"tags":[764,417,349],"class_list":["post-63307","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-audio","category-sermon","tag-rashness","tag-rebellion","tag-stubbornness"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":20492,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/i-quit\/","url_meta":{"origin":63307,"position":0},"title":"I Quit!","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 1, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Mark 10:35-45 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0We\u2019ve all seen people frustrated with a task. \u201cI quit!\u201d they yell as they storm off. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Funny thing ... Do you remember who it was? Neither does anyone else. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0However, there are times I ought to quit. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0I can allow myself to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":41952,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-christian-and-business\/","url_meta":{"origin":63307,"position":1},"title":"The Christian and Business","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 14, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Luke 12:15-21 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0I saw an article where the author railed against a business \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The gist was that the corporation was \u201cbad\u201d because it was large and successful \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The author assumed that its success must have come from exploiting workers and giving unfair competition to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":30963,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/daniels-integrity\/","url_meta":{"origin":63307,"position":2},"title":"Daniel’s Integrity","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 4, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Text: Daniel 6 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Daniel\u2019s Background \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Daniel was a young man when Judah was conquered by the Babylonians. He was among those carried off into exile. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Because of his abilities, Daniel rose to prominence in the Babylonian kingdom serving under the conqueror, Nebuchadnezzar, his son and his grandson. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0When the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":89096,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/ill-keep-on-until-they-quit\/","url_meta":{"origin":63307,"position":3},"title":"I’ll Keep On Until They Quit","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 4, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Alan Smith There was once an older man who went out for a jog. He was running around a track that circled the high school football field while the team was conducting its practice. When the football players began running their sprints up and down the field, the man\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":11685,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/an-industrious-worker\/","url_meta":{"origin":63307,"position":4},"title":"An Industrious Worker","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 13, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Proverbs 24:30-34 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Bible commends diligent work \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Jacob had his faults, but one thing we notice is that he was an industrious worker \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Genesis 31:38-39 - A summary of his work record. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0a.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Prosperous growth in herds \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0b.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0No miscarriages in 20 years \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0c.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0No\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":37661,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/being-a-conversationalist\/","url_meta":{"origin":63307,"position":5},"title":"Being a Conversationalist","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 5, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Romans 12:10-18 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A young lady wrote and asked, \u201cHow can you be a good conversationalist? I\u2019m so boring. I don\u2019t know how to strike up an interesting conversation.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It is a good question because talking to people is something we just take\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63307","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=63307"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63307\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=63307"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=63307"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=63307"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}