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Self-Will and Stubbornness

Self-will and stubbornness represent a resistance to God's direction and authority, often rooted in pride and rebellion. Scripture consistently warns against this sin and calls believers to submit their will to God's purposes.

Overview

The Bible portrays self-will and stubbornness as serious spiritual dangers that separate us from God's blessing. These attitudes manifest as refusal to listen to God's Word, rejection of correction, and determination to follow our own desires regardless of divine guidance. Such rebellion has characterized sin throughout history, from Israel's wilderness wanderings to the present day.

Key Scriptures

"But they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and the stubbornness of their evil hearts" (Jeremiah 7:24, ESV).

"For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry" (1 Samuel 15:23, ESV).

"A man who hardens his neck after much reproof will suddenly be broken beyond remedy" (Proverbs 29:1, NASB).

Application

Examine your heart for areas where you resist God's Word or correction, and deliberately choose submission to His will over personal preference through prayer and obedience to Scripture.

Scripture References 40

Jeremiah 7:24 Titus 1:7 Proverbs 7:11 2 Peter 2:10 2 Samuel 24:4 2 Chronicles 30:8 Psalms 75:5 Psalms 95:8 Isaiah 48:4 Jeremiah 7:24 2 Chronicles 36:13 Nehemiah 9:16 1 Samuel 15:23 Psalms 32:9 Jeremiah 31:18 Exodus 32:9 Deuteronomy 9:6 Deuteronomy 9:13 2 Chronicles 35:22 Exodus 34:9 Deuteronomy 9:27 Nehemiah 9:16 Nehemiah 9:29 Deuteronomy 21:21 Proverbs 29:1 Deuteronomy 31:27 Psalms 78:8 Proverbs 1:24 Deuteronomy 21:18 Deuteronomy 21:19 1 Samuel 8:19 Jeremiah 44:16 Zechariah 7:11 Deuteronomy 21:18 Jeremiah 5:3 Jeremiah 7:28 Nehemiah 9:17 Psalms 78:10 Isaiah 42:24 Jeremiah 6:16

Full Topical Reference List 58 total — Nave's Topical Bible

An evil heart

Jeremiah 7:24

Be without

Titus 1:7

Characteristic of the wicked

2 Peter 2:10 Proverbs 7:11

David

2 Samuel 24:4

Forbidden

2 Chronicles 30:8 Psalms 75:5 Psalms 95:8

God knows

Isaiah 48:4

Going backward and not forward

Jeremiah 7:24

Hardening the heart

2 Chronicles 36:13

Hardening the neck

Nehemiah 9:16

Heinousness of

Illustrated

Jeremiah 31:18 Psalms 32:9

Israelites

Deuteronomy 9:6 Deuteronomy 9:13 Exodus 32:9

Josiah

2 Chronicles 35:22

Pray that their people may be forgiven for

Deuteronomy 9:27 Exodus 34:9

Pride

Nehemiah 9:16 Nehemiah 9:29

Punishment for

Deuteronomy 21:21 Proverbs 29:1

Rebelling against God

Deuteronomy 31:27 Psalms 78:8

Refusing to hearken to God

Proverbs 1:24

Refusing to hearken to parents

Deuteronomy 21:18 Deuteronomy 21:19

Refusing to hearken to the messengers of God

1 Samuel 8:19 Jeremiah 44:16 Zechariah 7:11

Refusing to receive correction

Deuteronomy 21:18 Jeremiah 5:3 Jeremiah 7:28

Refusing to walk in the ways of God

Isaiah 42:24 Jeremiah 6:16 Nehemiah 9:17 Psalms 78:10

Resisting the Holy Spirit

Acts 7:51

Saul

1 Samuel 15:19 1 Samuel 15:20 1 Samuel 15:21 1 Samuel 15:22 1 Samuel 15:23

Simeon and Levi

Genesis 49:6

The wicked cease not from

Judges 2:19

Unbelief

2 Kings 17:14

Walking in the counsels of an evil heart

Jeremiah 7:24 Jeremiah 23:17

Warn their people against

Hebrews 3:7 Hebrews 3:8 Hebrews 3:9 Hebrews 3:10 Hebrews 3:11 Hebrews 3:12

Zedekiah

2 Chronicles 36:13

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