Bitterness: December 5, 2013

TODAY’S WORD FOR THURSDAY DECEMBER 5, 2013.

BITTERNESS

DEFINITION:

Resentment; hatred; anger; vengefulness; vindictiveness; jealousy.

SCRIPTURE:

Then Saul became very angry (and bitter), for this saying: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” Saul was displeased and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands and to me they have ascribed thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom.” I Samuel 18:8-9.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

King Saul had it all: God’s anointing on him as ruler; the prophet Samuel to guide him; the power and wealth of the kingdom of Israel; and the applause of the people. Yet he died a bitter man. There are several issues that led to his downfall that we as believers need to watch out for in our lives.

There was anger. When Goliath was defeated, the crowds praised Saul as a killer of thousands but David as a slayer of tens of thousands. Instead of rejoicing that God had raised up someone to slay the giant, Saul grew angry with David for receiving more praise than he did.

Saul also had wrong thinking about events around him. Saul’s flaring temper affected his mind and he became suspicious of David’s every move. He started thinking that since the Lord was with David and blessing him that the young man would want to take over the kingdom right away.

Saul became fearful and it led to plotting against David attempting to kill him by throwing spears at him. Saul sent David away from his presence. This showed his rejection of David.

Saul’s fear grew stronger with David’s military success and the people’s growing love for the younger man. Twice Saul used deceitful plots trying to manipulate David by offering one of his daughters to him for marriage in an attempt to get David killed by the Philistines. Each attempt failed. Saul responded to these failures by making David his enemy for the rest of his days. From this point on bitterness ruled Saul and reigned in his heart and destroyed his peace of mind.

Our lives are different then Saul’s but the steps to bitterness are the same. When we face unresolved anger in our lives and we allow it to fester, bitterness sets in. Do you avoid people, friends and family, because of ill will? Bitterness is never a proper response for a child of God. Bitterness poisons the mind, emotions and peace of mind.

Be sure you react differently than Saul did. Take your disappointments and anger immediately to the Lord. Do not wait and procrastinate. Ask the Lord to help you get through them and to help you let go. Your spiritual health depends on this.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in II Corinthians 9:8.

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything; you may have abundance for every good deed.

PRAYER:

Help my family to be willing to forgive so that we can avoid the pain and danger of bitterness in our lives. Help us never to be satisfied for less than Your best for our lives. Help us to be willing to put our lives in Your hands knowing You will lead us in the right path and keep us from sinning.