Overcoming bitterness

Psalm 73:21-25 (NLT)

Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside.  I was so foolish and ignorant—I must have seemed like a senseless animal to You.  Yet I still belong to You; You hold my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny.  Whom have I in heaven but You? I desire You more than anything on earth.  

When I think of bitter, I think of food that is bitter.  The Hebrew word for bitter is “chamets” that literally means “to be leavened, to be sour”.  So the word has some connection to food.  What kinds of bitter/sour foods come to mind?  Naturally bitter foods include coffee, unsweetened chocolate, lemons, beer, and olives while other kinds of sweet or salty tasting foods can become bitter when they are spoiled, e.g. tomatoes and other vegetables, milk, meat, and fruit.  Poisonous plants and spoiled food taste bitter so spitting out bitter food and drink is a natural survival mechanism.     

When you think of bitterness, you think of unpleasantness, sharpness, and being disagreeable.  What causes bitterness?  Certainly whenever something unpleasant happens in your life, like being mistreated, misunderstood,  wounded, lied to, cheated on, and many other unfortunate circumstances.  We all know right now of many bitter people in our lives; perhaps you are bitter right now too. 

Psalm 73 was written by a man named Asaph, a prophet under King David (I Chronicles 25:1-2), who is credited with writing Psalms 50 and 73 through 83.  Psalm 73 is known as a biblical example of how to respond when you see and interact with people who appear to be prosperous despite their sins and evil way of life (73:3-9).  Asaph was angry with these godless people who had money and possessions and were not being punished by God.  At times haven’t you felt exactly like Asaph when you, as a Christian, are doing your best to be faithful and obedient, yet are struggling financially while you see others who have no regard for God yet are apparently very well off and have so many things? 

Hopefully, you’ll reach a time, and maybe right now is it as you are reading these verses, where you realize that you are being bitter and need to stop.  You realize that remaining bitter is not going to accomplish anything other than give you ulcers, high blood pressure and loss of peace of mind.  Remaining bitter is a sign of foolishness and ignorance.  

What is the psalmist saying to do once you realize your heart is bitter and you are acting foolishly and ignorantly?  You return to God, you reach out to him, you talk to Him, you realize that you are His child and He loves you.  You ask for His guidance and wisdom and you believe with all your heart that He is leading you to a glorious destiny.  You also realize that all the riches of the earth are nothing compared to a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.  You recall what Jesus said, in Mark 8:36: “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet lose his soul?”  You realize that a good name is to be more desire than great riches (Proverbs 22:1).  Indeed the reward of being humble, not full of pride that riches typically produce in people, and fearing the Lord are riches, honor and life (Proverbs 22:4).

Release yourself from all bitterness and give it all over to the Lord.  Remember this wise quote from Harry Emerson Fosdick:  “Bitterness imprisons the soul, love releases it”.