Post on 17-Jan-2016
Journey Out of Bitterness Psalm 73
Bitterness
“The onlypoison you drink
thinkingthe other person will
die”
Psalm 73
1 Surely God is good to Israel, To those who are pure in heart! 2 But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling, My steps had almost slipped. 3 For I was envious of the arrogant as I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For there are no pains in their death, And their body is fat. 5 They are not in trouble as other men, Nor are they plagued like mankind.
Bitterness
“The onlypoison
you drinkthinkingthe other person
will die”
6 Therefore pride is their necklace; The garment of violence covers them. 7 Their eye bulges from fatness; The imaginations of their heart run riot. 8 They mock and wickedly speak of oppression; They speak from on high. 9 They have set their mouth against the heavens, And their tongue parades through the earth. 10 Therefore his people return to this place, and waters of abundance are drunk by them.
Bitterness
“The onlypoison
you drinkthinkingthe other person
will die”
11 They say, " How does God know? And is there knowledge with the Most High?“ 12 Behold, these are the wicked; And always at ease, they have increased in wealth. 13 Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and washed my hands in innocence; 14 For I have been stricken all day long and chastened every morning. 15 If I had said, "I will speak thus,” Behold, I would have betrayed the generation of Your children.
Bitterness
“The onlypoison
you drinkthinkingthe other person
will die”
16 When I pondered to understand this, It was troublesome in my sight. 17 Until I came into the sanctuary of God; Then I perceived their end. 18 Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction. 19 How they are destroyed in a moment! They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors! 20 Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when aroused, You will despise their form.
Bitterness
“The onlypoison
you drinkthinkingthe other person
will die”
21 When my heart was embittered and I was pierced within, 22 Then I was senseless and ignorant; I was like a beast before You. 23 Nevertheless I am continually with You; You have taken hold of my right hand. 24 With Your counsel You will guide me, And afterward receive me to glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
Bitterness
“The onlypoison
you drinkthinkingthe other person
will die”
Bitterness
“The onlypoison
you drinkthinkingthe other person
will die”
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 27 For, behold, those who are far from You will perish; You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to You. 28 But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord God my refuge, That I may tell of all Your works.
A Portrait of A Portrait of BitternessBitterness
Bitterness
“The onlypoison
you drinkthinkingthe other person
will die”
Carol McGalliard on Bitterness
• “Long ago someone hurt you. Your shoulders hunch up when you think about it. You set your jaw and get a bad taste in your mouth. When you talk about the hurt, your voice sounds crabby no matter how carefully you choose your words. You hope God will get even with the one who hurt you, but you dream about your own revenge– just in case He doesn’t.”
Discipleship Journal, Issue 141, May/June, 2004
Bitterness
“The onlypoison
you drinkthinkingthe other person
will die”
Psalm 73:21 “When my heart was embittered and I was pierced within.”
What Bitterness Does to Us
Bitterness
“The onlypoison
you drinkthinkingthe other person
will die”
Compare Acts 8:23: “For I see you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.”
Psalm 73:22 “Then I was senseless and ignorant; I was like a beast before You.
What Bitterness Does to Us
Bitterness
“The onlypoison
you drinkthinkingthe other person
will die”
Compare Proverbs 12:16 A fool's anger is known at once, But a prudent man conceals dishonor.
Compare Proverbs 12:16 The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult.
Qualities of a Bitter Person
• Endless replaying of the wrong in your mind… in detail (and perhaps exaggerated)
• Selective memory – focusing on only the bad times
• Self-pity• Self-righteousness – “I have a right
to be bitter”• Cynical (sometimes irrational)
comments• Harshness with others
Bitterness
“The onlypoison
you drinkthinkingthe other person
will die”
The Way Into The Way Into BitternessBitterness
Bitterness
“The onlypoison
you drinkthinkingthe other person
will die”
1. Comparing One’s Self to Others
Psalm 73:2-52 But as for me, my feet came close to
stumbling, My steps had almost slipped. 3 For I was envious of the arrogant as I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For there are no pains in their death, and their body is fat. 5 They are not in trouble as other men, nor are they plagued like mankind.
Bitterness
“The onlypoison
you drinkthinkingthe other person
will die”
2. Here ‘n Now Thinking
Psalm 73:13,1413 Surely in vain I have kept my
heart pure and washed my hands in innocence;14 For I have been stricken all day long and chastened every morning.
If my thinking is based on the here and now ONLY, of what eternal value is it?
Bitterness
“The onlypoison
you drinkthinkingthe other person
will die”
3. Seeking Understanding Without Biblical
InsightPsalm 73 :16When I pondered to understand
this, it was troublesome in my sight.
Bitterness
“The onlypoison
you drinkthinkingthe other person
will die”
Compare Deuteronomy 29:29 The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever that we may observe all the words of the law.
The Way Out of The Way Out of BitternessBitterness
Bitterness
“The onlypoison
you drinkthinkingthe other person
will die”
1. The Journey Begins With a
Divine Perspective
Psalm 73:16,17When I pondered to understand this,
It was troublesome in my sight.Until I came into the sanctuary of
God; Then I perceived their end.
Psalm 73:1Surely God is good to Israel,To those who are pure in heart!
Bitterness
“The onlypoison
you drinkthinkingthe other person
will die”
2. Refuse to Make Comparisons
Psalm 73:3 For I was envious of the arrogant as
I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
Psalm 73:13Surely in vain I have kept my heart
pure and washed my hands in innocence;
Bitterness
“The onlypoison
you drinkthinkingthe other person
will die”
3. Surrender the Issue of Justice
to God27. Those far from You will certainly
perish; You destroy all who are unfaithful to You.
Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, " Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. Romans 12:19
Bitterness
“The onlypoison
you drinkthinkingthe other person
will die”
4. Practice the Presence of God
vs. 23 “I am continually with You”vs. 24 “Your counsel You will guide
me,”vs. 25 Besides You, I desire nothing
on earth.”vs. 26 “God is the strength of my
heart and my portion forever.”vs. 28 “the nearness of God is my
good; I have made the Lord God my refuge,”
Bitterness
“The onlypoison
you drinkthinkingthe other person
will die”
So What?• See the big picture from God’s point of view.• To reprogram your thoughts & emotions, spend time meditating on God’s Word.• Concentrate on your own spiritual growth instead of on the other person’s offense.• Draw on God’s grace to forgive• Aspire to be an agent of God’s grace, instead of a victim.
Bitterness
“The onlypoison
you drinkthinkingthe other person
will die”