ELUL 19
Bitterness
“Let all bitterness … be put away from
you.” (Eph 4:31)
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 second 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 she blames her husband for the job/income loss. 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, which is
the Hebrew word ṭâmê' (Strong’s H2930).
The
Fall Feasts are just around the corner, with all 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 honest investigation
and evaluation, 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
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, 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)
©2021
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