Contemplative Bible Reading

“What is more pleasing to the Lord:
your burnt offerings and sacrifices
or your obedience to his voice?
Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice,
and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.
²³ Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft,
and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols.
So because you have rejected the command of the Lord,
he has rejected you as king.”

Note the second line of verse 23:

and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols

Wait. That must be a misprint. Worshiping idols is terrible. Being stubborn is just as bad? Can’t be. Being stubborn is a character trait that many of us have. Many of us are stubborn on our bad days.

How can you say that stubbornness is as bad as woshiping idols?

I have to reconsider the idea of being stubborn.