Human Woodpeckers

# 217 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king." We've talked about rebellion, now let's talk about the idea of stubbornness being as iniquity and idolatry. The word “stubbornness” in the Hebrew, means “to peck.” My first reaction to that is....what? What has pecking got to do with stubbornness? Let's see what Merriam Webster has to say about this. To be stubborn is to be “perversely unyielding” Ah, now we are getting somewhere. Not just unyielding, but perversely unyielding. That definition ties into the concept of iniquity very nicely. Observe the birds, whether they are pecking on the ground for food, or the woodpecker incessantly tapping on a tree, they are relentless. They peck until they find what they want. This is the story of those who refuse to yield to God. They are persistently disobedient, and to stubbornly continue to seek their own way is iniquity and idolatry. What about iniquity? Iniquity is defined as “panting to exert oneself to sin.” When we are being stubborn, we will wear ourselves out seeking justification for feeding our fleshly nature. We will peck here and peck there seeking gratification and security in anything and everything other than God. These anythings and everythings are idols. Oh beloved, do you see how silly we must look to God? Human woodpeckers and birds looking for seeds and gnats to satisfy our soul, when the God of the universe wants to fill us with Himself. Ac 17:28 says, "for in Him we live and move and have our being,” this is where true fulfillment comes from. Quit your stubbornness and yield to Him today.