bitterness

BITTERNESSBITTERNESSBible Study

Killorglin Baptist Church

What is bitterness?What is bitterness?

Kinds of bitternessKinds of bitterness

The heart Prov. 14:10-11Pro 14:10 The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy. Pro 14:11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish.

Bitterness – trouble

Death 1 Sam. 15:32, Jer. 31:151Sa 15:32 Then Samuel said, "Bring here to me Agag the king of the Amalekites." And Agag came to him cheerfully. Agag said, "Surely the bitterness of death is past."

Jer 31:15 Thus says the LORD: "A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.“

Bitterness – bitterness, anger, discontentedness, bitterly

How do we recognise How do we recognise it?it?

Job 7:11 "Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. Job 7:12 Am I the sea, or a sea monster, that you set a guard over me? Job 7:13 When I say, 'My bed will comfort me, my couch will ease my complaint, 'Job 7:14 then you scare me with dreams and terrify me with visions, Job 7:15 so that I would choose strangling and death rather than my bones. Job 7:16 I loathe my life; I would not live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are a breath. Job 7:17 What is man, that you make so much of him, and that you set your heart on him, Job 7:18 visit him every morning and test him every moment? Job 7:19 How long will you not look away from me, nor leave me alone till I swallow my spit? Job 7:20 If I sin, what do I do to you, you watcher of mankind? Why have you made me your mark? Why have I become a burden to you? Job 7:21 Why do you not pardon my transgression and take away my iniquity? For now I shall lie in the earth; you will seek me, but I shall not be."

Bitterness toward Bitterness toward God?God?

Job 7:11 "Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

Job 9:18 he will not let me get my breath, but fills me with bitterness.

Job 10:1 "I loathe my life; I will give free utterance to my complaint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

Job 21:25 Another dies in bitterness of soul, never having tasted of prosperity.

Causes of bitternessCauses of bitterness


Childlessness 1 Sam. 1:5, 101Sa 1:5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the LORD had closed her womb. 1Sa 1:10 She was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly.

Bitterness – bitterness, anger, discontentedness, bitterly, heavy


A foolish son Prov. 17:25Pro 17:21 He who sires a fool gets himself sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy. Pro 17:25 A foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him

Bitterness – grief, sorrow verse 21 depression

Causes of bitternessCauses of bitterness Sickness Is. 38:17

Isa 38:14 Like a swallow or a crane I chirp; I moan like a dove. My eyes are weary with looking upward. O Lord, I am oppressed; be my pledge of safety! Isa 38:15 What shall I say? For he has spoken to me, and he himself has done it. I walk slowly all my years because of the bitterness of my soul. Isa 38:16 O Lord, by these things men live, and in all these is the life of my spirit. Oh restore me to health and make me live! Isa 38:17 Behold, it was for my welfare that I had great bitterness; but in love you have delivered my life from the pit of destruction, for you have cast all my sins behind your back.

Bitterness – bitterness, anger, discontentedness, bitterly, heavyNotice the importance of peace, love and deliverance here.

Causes of bitternessCauses of bitterness Pride and a desire for recognition Acts 8:23.

Act 8:14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, Act 8:15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, Act 8:16 for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Act 8:17 Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. Act 8:18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, Act 8:19 saying, "Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit." Act 8:20 But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! Act 8:21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Act 8:22 Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. Act 8:23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.“

In The gall of bitterness- acridity, greenish hue, poison, infectious.


Calamity Ruth 1:20-21Ruth 1:20 She said to them, "Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. Ruth 1:21 I went away full, and the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the LORD has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?"

Slavery, hardship Exodus 1:13-14Exodus 1:13 So they ruthlessly made the people of Israel work as slaves Exodus 1:14 and made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and brick, and in all kinds of work in the field. In all their work they ruthlessly made them work as slaves.

Heb 12:12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, Heb 12:13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Heb 12:14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. Heb 12:15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no "root of bitterness" springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; Heb 12:16 that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. Heb 12:17 For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.

So then what is So then what is bitternessbitterness

Bitterness is an internal, self inflicting wound that comes from responding improperly to an event or an offense.

The seed of bitterness is a recognized hurt that causes one “to be bitter” or “to “cut” or “prick”

Danger of BitternessDanger of Bitterness

It is not easily It is not easily detecteddetected

Hebrews 12:15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no "root of bitterness" springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;

Note the importance that bitterness is described as a root. It festers and builds like a cancer, its poison goes about undetected as it builds to become the destructive force it is.

Questions?What are the evidences of the root of bitterness?

It is a rootIt is a root

It is not easily It is not easily detecteddetected Bitter fruit, Deuteronomy 32:32-33

Deu 32:32 For their vine comes from the vine of Sodom and from the fields of Gomorrah; their grapes are grapes of poison; their clusters are bitter;

Deu 32:33 their wine is the poison of serpents and the cruel venom of asps.

Bitterness – bile, poison, venom.Note that bitterness often goes undetected but is seen by the poisonous bitter fruit.(tasting bitter grapes)

It is not easily It is not easily detecteddetected

Bitterness harbored in heart, James 3:14.Jas 3:14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.

But eventually is evident

For our particular For our particular purposes bitterness is the purposes bitterness is the

ultimate result of not ultimate result of not forgiving others for an forgiving others for an

offense we feel offense we feel has been done to us. has been done to us.

Matthew 18:34-35Matthew 18:34-35

Devastating effects Devastating effects of Bitternessof Bitterness

Devastating effects of Devastating effects of BitternessBitterness

Malice toward others Eph. 4:31Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Ephesians 4:32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.Taking vengeance, backbiting, a spiteful remark, biting sarcasm, scornful replies show signs of a resentful heart and is a sign of a heart of un-forgiveness and makes it impossible to resolve on-going conflicts. We can withdraw, give others the silent treatment, cold shoulder, react with intolerance or act with a huge degree of hypersensitivity: treating a pin prick as though it were a knife. We can become impatient with others and show disrespect, rebellion especially if the authority figure is unkind, or we can abuse our power is a subordinate has offended us, we could spiral downwards into depression, and have doubts about God because we re slipping further away from Him.

Bitterness – acridity, poison

Devastating effects of BitternessDevastating effects of BitternessAs a source of defilement Heb. 12:12-17

Heb 12:12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, Heb 12:13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Heb 12:14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. Heb 12:15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no "root of bitterness" springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; Heb 12:16 that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. Heb 12:17 For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.

Bitterness – acridity, poison

Devastating effects of BitternessDevastating effects of Bitterness

Bitterness of soul, Job 3:20; Proverbs 14:10.Job 3:20 "Why is light given to him who is in misery, and life to the bitter in soul, Job 3:21 who long for death, but it comes not, and dig for it more than for hidden treasures, Job 3:22 who rejoice exceedingly and are glad when they find the grave?Pro 14:10 The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy. Pro 14:11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish.~

Bitterness – chafed, discontentedness, angry, trouble prov14


Forsaking the Lord, Jeremiah 2:19.Jeremiah 2:19 Your evil will chastise you, and your apostasy will reprove you. Know and see that it is evil and bitter for you to forsake the LORD your God; the fear of me is not in you, declares the Lord GOD of hosts.

Bitterness – discontent heavy, great heavy

Devastating effects of BitternessDevastating effects of Bitterness Sinful behavior

“Cursing and bitterness,” Romans 3:14Rom 3:14 "Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.“

Hurting loved onesTowards spouse and children Colossians 3:19,21, Ephesians 6:4Col 3:19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. Col 3:21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.Eph 6:4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Boasting, selfishness and falsehood James 3:14.Jas 3:14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.

Devastating effects of BitternessDevastating effects of Bitterness Gall of bitterness, Lamentations 3:15.

Lam 3:10 He is a bear lying in wait for me, a lion in hiding; Lam 3:11 he turned aside my steps and tore me to pieces; he has made me desolate; Lam 3:12 he bent his bow and set me as a target for his arrow. Lam 3:13 He drove into my kidneys the arrows of his quiver; Lam 3:14 I have become the laughingstock of all peoples, the object of their taunts all day long. Lam 3:15 He has filled me with bitterness; he has sated me with wormwood. Lam 3:16 He has made my teeth grind on gravel, and made me cower in ashes; Lam 3:17 my soul is bereft of peace; I have forgotten what happiness is; Lam 3:18 so I say, "My endurance has perished; so has my hope from the LORD." Lam 3:19 Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall! Lam 3:20 My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me.

The prophet's contemporaries mocked and ridiculed him constantly. He had become full of bitter experiences, like poison, which the Lord had given him to drink (cf. Job_9:18).


Punished conscience, Jeremiah 4:18.Jeremiah 4:18 Your ways and your deeds have brought this upon you. This is your doom, and it is bitter; it has reached your very heart."Bitterness – chafed, discontentedness. Again note the residence of this bitterness and its consequences.

Overcoming Overcoming BitternessBitterness

Let Let allall bitterness and wrath and bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander anger and clamor and slander be be put awayput away from you, along from you, along

with all malice.with all malice.

Vs 32 Be Vs 32 Be kindkind to one another, to one another, tenderheartedtenderhearted, , forgivingforgiving one one

another, as God in Christ another, as God in Christ forgave you. forgave you.

Ephesians 4:31-32Ephesians 4:31-32

Overcoming BitternessOvercoming Bitterness

Do you have constant thoughts of resentment

“He wont ever change, I cant put up with it anymore”

Anger is controlling your ability to solve problems

Your hurt feelings overcome you so you cant forgive

Are you resorting to sinful behaviour with abusive speech, gossip, name calling, moods, tantrums, quarrelling, slander, threats and withdrawal.

Forgiveness importantForgiveness important

Establish if the offence was a sin seek restorationForgiveness is to be granted only is an offence has been committed. Matthew 18:34-35

If there has been no sin then there is nothing to forgive. If your “feelings were hurt” or “if you were let down” but there was no sin then your thinking abut the matter has to change before you speak about your hurt to the other.

You must always take the initiative to restore a relationship and not let your hurt feelings allow you to fester into bitterness against someone. Luke 17

Forgiveness importantForgiveness important

Forgiveness is costly. Matthew 18:32-34.We should remember what it cost the Lord to forgive us our sins against Him and that he freely forgives by his grace. Romans 5:9,Ephesians 2:8-9

A bitter heart is ungrateful for the forgiveness received from God. Forgiveness must be immediate and unconditional.

Transformed Feelings and Transformed Feelings and ActionsActions

Psa 64:2 Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked, from the throng of evildoers, Psa 64:3 who whet their tongues like swords, who aim bitter words like arrows,

Ecc 7:26 And I find something more bitter than death: the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and whose hands are fetters. He who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is taken by her.


It is your sin that must be put off. Ephesians 4:31.Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

Chang your thoughts and actions that have allowed bitterness to fester. Rom 12:21(17-21) Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.Proverbs 15:28 The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.


When we respond to others with bitterness we loose them and will eventually loose the battle. Only goodness overcomes.

Don’t retreat, do not surrender, do not give up, don’t throw in the towel, don’t whimper away, don’t allow evil to overthrow you, you may not allow another’s sin to provoke you to sin, you must overcome evil with good, don’t take revenge. (Romans 12:19, 1 Corinthians 4:5)

Understanding and Manifesting LoveUnderstanding and Manifesting Love

Love our enemies. Romans 12:20, Matthew 5:43-45, Galatians 6:1,1 Corinthians 13:4-7

We love others by meeting their needs unconditionally. (Not their desires)This will take away the residual feelings of bitterness against others.

THINKTHINK

ACTACT

FEELFEEL

bitterness

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bitterness bitterness

bitterness of soul

bitterness grief

bitterness of death

bitterness trouble

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foolish sonprov

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