Elul 19
Bitterness
“Let all bitterness … be put away from you.” (Eph
4:31 ISR)
Bitterness has been
defined for us in the Scriptures as a root
(Heb 12:15) that has the potential of causing us all manner of problems, and
even eventually defiling us. Our
esteemed medical community also recognizes the dangers of prolonged bitterness, stating that harbored and nursed bitterness
has the potential side effect of making one physically ill[1]. There are so many different emotions
affiliated with bitterness – anger, resentment, unforgiveness, hostility,
animosity, malice - that it becomes easy to recognize bitterness as the root
that supports everything else.
Why do we even desire to hang on to
this harmful (in every way) ‘root’? Speaking
from the place of experience, where I have battled this ‘root’ myself, I wonder
if it is not the need to feel ‘justified’ when a situation or circumstance did
not turn out the way we intended it to do.
For example: Let us imagine a young wife, pleased and excited over her
husband’s promotion and raise, finds that it is not required for her to provide
a 2nd income for the family.
Fast forward some years and several children later, and abruptly, the
husband’s career employment ends with termination, forcing the young wife to
re-enter the work force. Anger,
resentment, and bitterness are now her constant companions, all the while
believing that she is ‘justified’ in the way she feels, as it was, after all,
her husband’s fault that he was terminated.
The longer that these negative emotions are welcomed and entertained,
the deeper that root of bitterness will grow, until such time as it infects
everything that this wife does and says.
It is at
this point that this woman has ‘fallen short of the favor of Elohim’ (Heb
12:15), and she becomes
defiled - ṭâmê'.
The
Fall Feasts are just around the corner, with all of their attached
meaning. Brethren, bitterness is
something that our Elohim cannot tolerate in those who profess to walk
according to His Torah. Should you find,
upon investigation and examination, that there is such a root of bitterness
within you, please, lay it out before our Creator, and ask for His assistance
in removing it – all of it. When this root is gone – together with all of
the nasty companions – there is an amazing freedom and release. I know – been there, done that.
“And there you shall
remember your ways and all your deeds WITH WHICH YOU WERE DEFILED. And you
shall loathe yourselves in your own sight because of all the evils that you
did.”
(Eze 20:43 ISR, emphasis mine)
“The night is far advanced, the day has
come near. So let us put off the works of darkness, and let us put on the
armour of light.” (Rom 13:12 ISR)
©2018
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