Journey Out of Bitterness Psalm 73

Psalm 73 1.God is indeed good to Israel, to the pure in heart. 2.But as for me, my feet almost slipped; my steps nearly went astray. 3.For I envied the arrogant; I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4.They have an easy time until they die, and their bodies are well-fed. 5.They are not in trouble like others; they are not afflicted like most people. Holman Christian Standard Bible, Page

6.Therefore, pride is their necklace, and violence covers them like a garment. 7.Their eyes bulge out from fatness; the imaginations of their hearts run wild. 8.They mock, and they speak maliciously; they arrogantly threaten oppression. 9.They set their mouths against heaven, and their tongues strut across the earth. 10.Therefore His people turn to them and drink in their overflowing waters. 11.They say, “How can God know? Does the Most High know everything?”

12.Look at them—the wicked! They are always at ease, and they increase their wealth. 13.Did I purify my heart and wash my hands in innocence for nothing? 14.For I am afflicted all day long, and punished every morning. 15.If I had decided to say these things aloud, I would have betrayed Your people. 16.When I tried to understand all this, it seemed hopeless 17.until I entered God’s sanctuary. Then I understood their destiny.

18.Indeed You put them in slippery places; You make them fall into ruin. 19.How suddenly they become a desolation! They come to an end, swept away by terrors. 20.Like one waking from a dream, Lord, when arising, You will despise their image. 21.When I became embittered and my innermost being was wounded, 22.I was a fool and didn’t understand; I was an unthinking animal toward You. 23.Yet I am always with You; You hold my right hand.

24.You guide me with Your counsel, and afterwards You will take me up in glory. 25.Whom do I have in heaven but You? And I desire nothing on earth but You. 26.My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, my portion forever. 27.Those far from You will certainly perish; You destroy all who are unfaithful to You. 28.But as for me, God’s presence is my good. I have made the Lord God my refuge, so I can tell about all You do.

A Portrait of Bitterness

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

What Bitterness Does to Us 18.When I became embittered and my innermost being was wounded,

What Bitterness Does to Us 18.When I became embittered and my innermost being was wounded, Compare Acts 8:23: “For I see you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.”

What Bitterness Does to Us 18.When I became embittered and my innermost being was wounded, 19.I was a fool and didn’t understand; I was an unthinking animal toward You.

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 People begin to withdraw from the bitter person

This man-hating CD was intended to be shared with a female friend and a bottle of whiskey. Sorry, men. I know, you're not *all* bad. The title is a quote from my friend's favourite author, Jonathan Carroll. TRACK LIST: Maggie May: Rod Stewart You're so vain: Carly Simon (It looks like) I'll never fall in love again: Tom Jones 50 ways to leave your lover: Paul Simon (I'm gonna) burn your playhouse down: The Proclaimers The last day of our acquaintance: Sinead O'Connor

The Way Into Bitterness

1. Comparing One’s Self to Others 2.But as for me, my feet almost slipped; my steps nearly went astray. 3.For I envied the arrogant; I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4.They have an easy time until they die, and their bodies are well-fed. 5.They are not in trouble like others; they are not afflicted like most people.

2. Here ‘n Now Thinking 12.Did I purify my heart and wash my hands in innocence for nothing? 13.For I am afflicted all day long, and punished every morning.

3. Seeking Understanding Without Biblical Insight 16.When I tried to understand all this, it seemed hopeless

The Way Out of Bitterness

1. The Journey Begins With a Divine Perspective 16.When I tried to understand all this, it seemed hopeless 17.until I entered God’s sanctuary. Then I understood their destiny. 1.God is indeed good to Israel, to the pure in heart. 2.But as for me, my feet almost slipped; my steps nearly went astray.

1. The Journey Begins With a Divine Perspective 16.When I tried to understand all this, it seemed hopeless 17.until I entered God’s sanctuary. Then I understood their destiny. 1.God is indeed good to Israel, to the pure in heart. 2.But as for me, my feet almost slipped; my steps nearly went astray.

Applications 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 1. The Journey Begins With a Divine Perspective

Applications 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 1. The Journey Begins With a Divine Perspective “See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and by it, defiling many.” — Hebrews 12:15

2. Refuse to Make Comparisons 17.…Then I understood their destiny. 18.Indeed You put them in slippery places; You make them fall into ruin. 19.How suddenly they become a desolation! They come to an end, swept away by terrors.

3. Surrender the Issue of Justice to God 27.Those far from You will certainly perish; You destroy all who are unfaithful to You. “Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for His wrath. For it is written: Vengeance belongs to Me; I will repay, says the Lord.” -- Romans 12:19

4. Practice the Presence of God 23.Yet I am always with You; You hold my right hand. 24.You guide me with Your counsel, and afterwards You will take me up in glory. 25.Whom do I have in heaven but You? And I desire nothing on earth but You. 26.My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, my portion forever. 28.But as for me, God’s presence is my good. I have made the Lord God my refuge…

4. Practice the Presence of God 23.Yet I am always with You ; You hold my right hand. 24.You guide me with Your counsel, and afterwards You will take me up in glory. 25.Whom do I have in heaven but You? And I desire nothing on earth but You. 26.My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, my portion forever. 28.But as for me, God’s presence is my good. I have made the Lord God my refuge …

Applications If Jesus is not what you're focused on, what is? If Jesus is not enough, you will have to consider whether He is anything in your life. 4. Practice the Presence of God

Translations That May Have Been Used: Abbreviations & Copyright Info AMP or Amplified: © Copyright 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation ESV: The Holy Bible, English Standard Version © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. HCSB: Holman Christian Standard Bible © 2001, Broadman & Holman Publishers, LifeWay Christian Resources 127 Ninth Avenue North, Nashville, TN JPS: The Holy Scriptures (Old Testament) By the Jewish Publication Society All rights reserved MSG or Message: The Message © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson NAS: Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NAS) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE. Copyright 1960, 1988, by The Lockman Foundation, California. All rights reserved. NAS95: Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NAS95) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE. Copyright 1960, 1995, by The Lockman Foundation, California. All rights reserved. NET: The NET Bible, New English Translation (NET) Copyright © 1996, 1997, 1998 By Biblical Studies Press, LLC. All Rights Reserved The Holy Bible: The NET Bible(r) Copyright © 1998 By Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved NIV: Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by The International Bible Society. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. Scripture quoted by permission. NJKV: Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NKJV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW KING JAMES VERSION. Copyright (c) 1982 by Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved. NLT: Quotations designated (NLT) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW LIVING TRANSLATION Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois, All rights reserved. New Living, NLT, and the New Living Translation logo are registered trademarks of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. NRSV: Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NRSV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION. Copyrighted 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America, and are used by permission. All rights reserved. Phillips: J.B.Phillips, "The New Testament in Modern English", 1962 edition, published by HarperCollins, is presented here with the kind permission of Mrs Vera Phillips and the J.B.Phillips estate RSV: Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (RSV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: REVISED STANDARD VERSION. Copyright 1946, 1952, 1973 by National Council of Churches of Christ. All rights reserved. Weymouth: WEYMOUTH NEW TESTAMENT: NEW TESTAMENT IN MODERN SPEECH by Richard F. Weymouth 3rd Edition (1912)--Revised & edited E. Hampden-Cooke YLT: Young's Literal Translation of the Holy Bible by J.N. Young, 1862, 1898 (Author of the Young's Analytical Concordance)