Whenever the Lord raised up a judge from the Israelites, the Lord was with him and saved the people from the power of their enemies while the judge was still alive. The Lord was moved to pity whenever they groaned because of those who were oppressing and afflicting them. Whenever the judge died, the Israelites would act even more corruptly than their fathers, going after other gods to worship and bow down to them. They did not turn from their evil practices or their obstinate ways. Judges 2:18-19 HCSB
Obstinate is defined as stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or chosen course of action despite attempts to persuade one to do so. Some synonyms of obstinate are stubborn, unyielding, inflexible, unbending, bullheaded, pigheaded, self-willed, strong-willed, headstrong, perverse, uncooperative, unmanageable, stiff-necked, rigid, uncompromising, unrelenting, immovable, and unshakable.
These words define the attitude of the Israelites. Even though they had experienced God's protection and deliverance, they were determined to follow their own selfish ways and worship false gods. They became even more corrupt with each generation. The word “turn” means to repent and go in a different direction. The people would not turn from or repent of their evil ways. They were bullheaded.
Challenge: Have you been bullheaded? Are you unwilling to change? Are you following your own selfish desires? Do you need to repent and turn from your evil ways? Ask God to reveal how you are evil and what you need to change in your life. Pray that God will give you the strength to change and become more like His Son, Jesus Christ.
Read The Bible Through In Two Years: Genesis 24:1-67; Matthew 14:1-36