Stubborn and Deaf
Because they were stiff-necked and would not listen.
Jeremiah 19:15 (NIV)
Jeremiah announces judgment with explicit causes: bringing disasters because they grew stubborn, refusing to obey my words. Stubbornness plus selective deafness: hearing warnings for years, stopping ears stubbornly. Divine judgment never arrives sans history — arriving after ignored yellow cards. God warns before bringing; bringing is last resort.
Obedience breaks stubbornness before judgments break everything. Stubborn hearts harden in stages: postponing, rationalizing, scoffing — till hearing nothing more. Spiritual deafness progresses, reversible early, terminal late. Still hearing today: obeying fast before ears shut for good.
Unstubborning yourself today at one point: confessing stubbornness, hearing Scripture, obeying now. Stubborn and deaf: judgment comes for ear-closers.
Opened ears avoid announced judgments. Opening yours humbly today. Spiritual eardrums need daily cleaning. Wash ears today with Scripture, prayer. Selective deafness kills discernment. Hearing everything, retaining good, discarding rest. Biblical filters protect minds always. Practicing active listening today. And staying sensitive: daily obediences keep ears open always. Stay tender today. Soft hearts hear whispers. Harden not through neglect. Listen morning and evening daily. Obey instantly. Tender hearts receive most. Harden never. Practice prompt obedience. Ears open, hearts soft. Remain sensitive always. Stay soft. Listen well.