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”