YIELD TO CORRECTION

NOVEMBER 30, 2025

And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great

delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,

as in obeying the voice of the LORD?

Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,

and to hearken than the fat of rams. For

rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and

stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry...

(1 Samuel 15:22-23).

The words of Samuel to King Saul reveal a powerful

insight into the danger of disobedience. Saul

had received clear instructions from God through the

Prophet Samuel, but he chose his own course of action.

Then Samuel reproved him, saying, “...to obey is better

than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams” (1

Samuel 15:22).

Notice that obedience takes precedence over sacrifice.

God is more interested in your living out His Word, doing

the Word, than in any religious gesture. Then he goes

further to equate not doing what the Lord says to witchcraft,

“For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft....” That’s a

remarkable comparison. Disobedience produces rebellion.

He continues by saying “...and stubbornness is

as iniquity and idolatry....” Rebellion, when sustained,

becomes stubbornness. And what is stubbornness? It’s

the refusal to accept correction. It’s an insistence on one’s

own way in disregard of godly counsel and instructions.

The Bible says this is equivalent to idolatry.

That’s because in such a state, the individual exalts

and sees himself as his own authority. He esteems his

own opinions above God’s Word. That is self-worship,

and self-worship is idolatry. When someone disobeys and

insists on their own way, they enter into rebellion. If they’re

corrected and still will not change, they’re stubborn. And

stubbornness, according to God’s Word, is iniquity and

idolatry. So, never take the corrections of the Spirit or the

instructions from the Word lightly. To reject correction is to

make an idol of yourself. But to humbly yield to the Word

is wisdom.

PRAYER

Dear Father, thank you for the clarity and power of your

Word and the transformation it brings to my life. My heart

is tender and yielded to your instructions and guidance

always. I esteem your voice above every other opinion

or preference, and I walk in submission to your will, and

I live in the liberty and joy of righteousness, in Jesus’

Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY:

Proverbs 29:1 NIV; James 1:22; Hebrews 12:9-11;Proverbs 3:11

1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN

1 John 1-2:1-14 & Ezekiel 43-44

2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN

John 16:12-22 & 2 Chronicles 1-2