Alan Fong
3 min read
Alan Fong
3 min read
Alan Fong
3 min read
Hardened Necks
Today's Verse:
Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon this city and upon all her towns all the evil that I have pronounced against it, because they have hardened their necks, that they might not hear my words. ~Jeremiah 19:15
Have you ever awakened with a stiff neck? A stiff neck occurs when we sleep without adequate neck and head support or when we sleep in a bad position for a several hours. A stiff neck can be very painful. When you have a stiff neck, it is very difficult to turn your neck in the direction where the stiffness occurs. The stiffness prevents you from turning your head to listen to people who are speaking to you. If you do not explain to them this malady, they might assume that you are being rude and unreceptive to their message. In Scripture, a stiff or hardened neck is a strong picture that refers to someone who is stubborn and unrepentant toward sin in their life.
There is the wickedness of a hardened neck.
A hardened neck speaks of a continuous disobedience, blatant sinful tendencies, and a stubborn rebellion against the will of God. A hardened neck is a refusal to turn our attention to God and His Word. It is having full knowledge of what is right to do, but refusing to do it. A hardened neck is the resisting of the impulse of the Holy Spirit and the putting off making things right.
There is the witness of a hardened neck.
Judah typified a hardened neck in their refusal to heed God’s Word. They persisted in idol worship, followed the sacrifices of the pagans, and lived lives that conformed to the culture that they lived in. Jeremiah the prophet brought them a message of repentance over and over again, but they ignored his message and scoffed at him. The people wanted Jeremiah and prophets like him to go away from them. They preferred the false messages of the people-pleasing prophets who did not have a word from God. Those false prophets were like the prosperity preachers of today.
There is the warning against a hardened neck.
Proverbs 29:1 tells us, “He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.” God clearly states that sudden destruction awaits those who persist with a hardened neck. To harden one’s neck and not accept the free gift of salvation will result in spending eternity in Hell. To harden one’s neck and live with unconfessed sin and idols in our lives will result in severe chastening. There is no remedy against sudden destruction. There is no advance notice that God might blow a storm into our lives to get our attention. Heed the warning, and do not allow a hardened neck to lead to a situation that cannot be remedied.
There is the withdrawal from a hardened neck.
Instead of persisting in our stubbornness, it is time to repent and be delivered from our hardened necks. We need to come with a contrite heart before God, forsake the idols in our lives, and turn back to a life of fellowship with our Lord. Our focus should be on doing what God requires of us and seeing the blessings of God return.
A hardened neck is painful and punitive. Let the Lord make the proper adjustment to your hardened neck, obey the Lord, and do right.
Have an obedient God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Psalm 70-73
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