How rich words are! This is one way we study the Bible using Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary.

“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. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.”

‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭15:22-23‬ ‭KJV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/1/1sa.15.22-23.kjv

Even in the military, rebellion — even uttering words — against authority is strictly punished. There are even special protections for the President, our Commander in Chief, no matter what the situation. In dealing with earthly authority even with the relationship between parents and children, bosses and employees, or masters and servants, God has shown us even in our limited comprehension of how much God’s authority — like the authority of an earthly king — and obedience to Him is of utmost importance. 🙏

In looking at some definitions in my study of this section in Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary, we can find some of the following meanings that should cause great fear (healthy kind) and thought about how much we value God and appointed authority in our lives:

REB'EL, n. [L. rebellis, making war again.]

1. One who revolts from the government to which he owes allegiance, either by openly renouncing the authority of that government, or by taking arms and openly opposing it. A rebel differs from an enemy, as the latter is one who does not owe allegiance to the government which he attacks. Num 17.

2. One who willfully violates a law.

3. One who disobeys the king's proclamation; a contemner of the king's laws.

REBEL', v.i. [L. rebello, to make war again; re and bello.]

1. To revolt; to renounce the authority of the laws and government to which one owes allegiance. Subjects may rebel by an open renunciation of the authority of the government, without taking arms; but ordinarily, rebellion is accompanied by resistance in arms.

Ye have built you an altar, that ye might rebel this day against the Lord. Josh 22. Isa 1.

2. To rise in violent opposition against lawful authority.

WITCHCRAFT, [witch and craft.]

1. The practices of witches; sorcery; enchantments; intercourse with the devil.

STUBBORN, a. [This word is doubtless formed on the root of stub or stiff, and denotes fixed, firm. But the origin of the latter syllable is not obvious.

1. Unreasonably obstinate; inflexibly fixed in opinion; not to be moved or persuaded by reasons; inflexible; as a stubborn son; a stubborn mind or soul.

The queen is obstinate--stubborn to justice.

2. Persevering; persisting; steady; constant; as stubborn attention.

3. Stiff; not flexible; as a stubborn bow.

5. Harsh; rough; rugged. [Little used.]

6. Refractory; not easily melted or worked; as a stubborn ore or metal.

7. Refractory; obstinately resisting command, the goad or the whip; as a stubborn ass or horse.

May the Lord continue to have mercy on us, gently lead us, give us the grace to believe in Him and eyes to see where we sin. May God have mercy on our country and heal our nation. May His Word and beautiful Gospel be continued to spread abroad. Amen. 🙏