When I was three or four years old my parents took me to the county fair in San Antonio, Tx. They put me on the kid version of a roller coaster. I was so scared, I screamed bloody murder which prompted the operator to stop the ride and promptly extracte me and return me to my embarrassed parents. To prove that I could ride a roller coaster without screaming, I rode a big roller coaster in Roanoke, VA when I was older. But other then that I have avoided such rides.
On to bigger and safer rides! The pony ride was my next venture. I was placed on a Shetland pony and settled in the safety of the saddle. Oh I was comfortable riding in a circle on that pony! But I wanted more adventure. So as a defiant child, I dug my heels into that ponies side and off he went (he was on a lead) much to the dismay of the handler. He wasn’t happy and told me to stop that! Well that sealed my love for horses!
I spent most of my childhood and teenage years dreaming about owning a horse, riding, taking lessons and collecting Breyer horses. (models) I had a chance to buy a pony for $25.00. I saved my quarters and when I had collected the money, I approached the owner with my money but…..he had sold the pony. The next chance came when my Uncle Bob won a pony and he gave it to me. (Much to the dismay of my dad) I only had to find a way to transport him to NC and a place to board him. That fell by the wayside too! The Lord did not want me to own a horse! I finally let go of that dream as an adult.
I was prompted to write this blog by the Holy Spirit when I came across this line as I was reading about King Solomon in the book The Story Of Prophets and Kings…”As a safeguard against dependence on flesh, the Lord had warned those who should rule over Israel not to multiply horses to themselves…”(pg. 56) What does that mean? I read various commentaries to learn about the meaning of Deuteronomy 17:16. (This the first part of the vs. the remaining part talks about Egypt, which the Lord didn’t want His people to have anything to do with)
According to Barnes Notes on the Bible, The horse was not anciently used in the East for purposes of agriculture or traveling, but ordinarily for war only. He appears constantly in Scripture as the symbol and embodiment of fleshly strength and the might of the creature (compare Psalm 20:7; Psalm 33:16-17; Psalm 147:10; Job 39:19 ff), and is sometimes significantly spoken of simply as “the strong one” (compare Jeremiah 8:16). The spirit of the prohibition therefore is that the king of Israel must not, like other earthly potentates, put his trust in costly and formidable preparations for war (compare Hosea 1:7).
Wendy Eaton in her article Be Not as A Horse wrote Why was this command given? Horses were not used for farming purposes; their main role was for military purposes—war. They were mounts of kings, princes, conquerors, and soldiers. To ride a horse implied war, doom, and victory. Men of peace did not typically ride horses but rode donkeys, mules, camels and drove oxen carts, as these animals did not herald threats of war. The more horses an army had, the greater their strength was viewed. God commanded the Israelite kings not to keep many horses, which would prevent them from building their armies as did the heathen—with horses. The Lord wanted to have men put more faith and trust in Him than in their own resources or strength—their horses and chariots. He wanted His people to rely on Him for deliverance and victory from their enemies. “The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.” Proverbs 21:31
King Saul obeyed this command and his armies never included cavalry. However, we see a deviation from this command beginning with King David. “David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates. And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David hocked all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for an hundred chariots.” 2 Samuel 8:3–4. David spared only 100 horses for his military—but it was still a disobedience from the command of the Lord. Solomon, his son, learning from his father, had many horses.
Jesus Returns on a Horse: “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war.” Revelation 19:11. Why will Jesus choose a horse as the animal to ride on when He returns to earth? Riding a horse is a sign of royalty. Jesus returns as victor—the King of kings and Lord of lords. He returns as a conqueror; He returns for the final battle to defeat the forces of evil.
You can read here full article here.
Of the Border in South Carolina on I-95.
I have only ridden a couple as an adult. I spend my time now looking for horses to photograph. My goal now is to photograph horses in the wild a few mote times.
You can see more of my photography here: All proceeds go to ADRA- Ukraine. The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is the global humanitarian organization of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/1-cindy-archbell
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