Stubborn!

Jeremiah 6:16-17 This is what the Lord says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ 17 I appointed watchmen over you and said, ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’ But you said, ‘We will not listen.’

One of the traits that we as parents try to work out of our children is stubbornness. We might call it pig-headedness. Or politely we call it ‘strong-willed.’ But no matter what we call it, we know it when we see it.

The stomped foot with hands on the hips and that look on the face. The scream of defiance. The stomping of the feet as they walk away from us. The throwing of the toy. The crossed arms and the huff! Can you think of more?

These and many more signs are indicators of stubbornness. We understand children exerting their will. And we understand the need to channel that will toward the good and righteous. Discipline is a necessary part of life, even for children.

Parents do a disservice to the rest of humanity by indulging their children’s behaviors, coddling them and giving in when they throw their fits. If we don’t help children see that there are rules in society (family for young children) then when they grow up they riot and destroy property. This is just an adult tantrum! Let’s see it for what it is.

Jeremiah has the unenviable task of pronouncing judgment on Judah. They have not heeded the lesson of their northern brothers and sisters of Israel. Israel has been taken into exile following their refusal to heed the warnings. Their stubbornness cost them their homes and livelihoods. For many, it cost them their lives.

Now Judah is in the judgment crosshairs and Jeremiah is the rifle aiming the LORD’s rounds. Jeremiah, in the words of prophetic language, ‘stands at the crossroads.’ He asks where the right road is, the good way. He is wondering if Judah will even know the right way to live, a way that honors the LORD and His holiness.

They answer with an unwillingness to obey. They choose to go their own way. They ignore their history of redemption. They ignore their history of grace.

And part of that offer to the people is ‘rest for your souls.’ Who wouldn’t want this! But they put their hands on their hips, stomp their feet and shout in the prophet’s face, “We will not walk in it.” Can you hear the stubbornness? I can.

Where do we fit in? Are we stubborn when it comes to the LORD’s will? Are we obedient, not only to those things that we like, but also to those things we don’t like?

If we want rest, obedience is the path. This kind of obedience flows out of our relationship with the LORD. It is not the ‘on ramp’ to a relationship with the LORD. We don’t gain His favor by our obedience. We obey because we know all that the LORD has done for us.