A Stubborn Heart

Definition:

stub·born   [stuhb-ern]  

adjective

1.

unreasonably obstinate; obstinately unmoving: a stubborn child.

2.

fixed or set in purpose or opinion; resolute: a stubborn opponent of foreign aid.

3.

obstinately maintained, as a course of action: a stubborn resistance.

4.

difficult to manage or suppress: a stubborn horse; a stubborn pain.

5.

hard, tough, or stiff, as stone or wood; difficult to shape or work.

Stubborn Heart

¹¹But My people would not hearken to My voice, and Israel would have none of Me. ¹²So I gave them up to their own hearts' lust and let them go after their own stubborn will, that they might follow their own counsels. ¹³Oh, that My people would listen to Me, that Israel would walk in My ways! ¹⁴Speedily then I would subdue their enemies and turn My hand against their adversaries. ¹⁵[Had Israel listened to Me in Egypt, then] those who hated the Lord would have come cringing before Him, and their defeat would have lasted forever. ¹⁶[God] would feed [Israel now] also with the finest of the wheat; and with honey out of the rock would I satisfy you.  Psalm 81:11-16 AMP 

So many times throughout the bible God warned and tried to lead the Children of Israel but they had their own ways and were set in there own desires and wouldn't bend or change.  Often you see their sad and painful consequences.  

God wants us to have a pliable heart that he can speak to and direct.  When we set that we are too good, been through too much to... and refuse to walk the path that God asks us to walk, we set ourselves up for a great downfall.  

The problem of the stubborn heart is something that the Israelites struggled with throughout their existence. God tried again and again to persuade the Israelites to follow him, but they rebelled repeatedly. He ultimately gave the people up to follow their lusts, “to go after their own stubborn will, that they might follow their own counsels.”  Notice how God didn’t force them to obey him. He gave them a choice, and allowed them to follow their stubborn wills.   

In the final verses of the Psalm, God reflected on the benefits that the people would have enjoyed, had they hearkened to his voice.  Specifically, he would have turned his hand against their adversaries and permanently subdued them.  He also would have prospered and satisfied them with good things, such as the finest wheat and honey.   

My prayer is that each of us learn to be obedient unto God.  That we are willing to do things that aren't comfortable, or that we don't really want to do, but we do it because God has asked us to do them, knowing in the end, great is our reward.