“But my people did not listen to my voice;
Israel would not submit to me.
So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts,
to follow their own counsels.”
– Psalm 81:11-12
Though He is sovereign, God won’t force anyone to do the right thing against their will. He won’t force us to listen to Him or follow His plan for our lives. Indeed, one of the most frightening things He does is “give us over to our stubborn hearts” – letting us do whatever we most want to do and experience the consequences of that.
Though it sounds delightful in the moment, this is one of the heaviest and most profoundly distressing punishments found in the Bible. We can easily imagine the disaster awaiting a child who always gets his or her way (a brief, miserable, and meaningless life filled with dessert and endless entertainment that results in malnutrition, ill-health, and ignorance).
Rest assured, the outcome is far worse for adults given that same punishment. At times God simply removes His restraining hand and lets us do whatever we most want to do. The outcome is always dreadful sin, misery, meaninglessness, destruction, and ultimate judgment.
May we turn back, individually and collectively, from the siren song of following our own counsel, advice, and desires. May we turn to the Lord and faithfully walk in step with the Holy Spirit and in imitation of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior! May we listen to the Lord rather than our own stubborn hearts!