Skip to main content

Welcome To Bitter Root!

What if I told you there is a root that sprouts poison?

Would you be interested in experiencing it? Or, maybe you would just want to avoid it at all costs!

This particular poison is also linked to bitterness, and it’s not the bitterness as in an unpleasantly sharp taste.

This poison, in fact, has little to do with ingestion and taste. It is, however, a particularly nasty poison that spreads and affects others. And the bitterness that accompanies it is the kind that the dictionary defines as that which is distasteful or distressing to the mind or that which is caused by or expressive of severe pain, grief, or regret.

So where does this poison and bitterness come from?

It comes when we turn from being with the Lord and we go after other gods to serve them: “Make sure there isn’t any one among you right now—male or female, clan or tribe—whose mind is turning from being with the Lord our God in favor of going to serve these nations’ gods. Make sure there isn’t any root among you that is sprouting poison and bitterness.” (Deut 29:18)

One version seems to indicate that a person could be the source of the poison: “Make sure that no one among you is the source of this kind of bitter poison.” (GW)

Other versions seem to indicate that it the worship that is the source of the poison:  “No one must worship the gods of those nations. Make sure that kind of worship doesn’t spread like bitter poison through your whole community.” (NIRV)

Whether it is a poison from a person who has gone to serve other gods or it is the worship of other gods, the likely result is a root that sprouts poison and bitterness.

There is a New Testament corollary in Hebrew 12: “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” (v. 15).

From what I understand, the “bitter root” in Hebrews 12 could refer to a source of evil or wickedness or disobedience within the church. It’s possible also that it is being used metaphorically to describe those who hold to unsound or incorrect doctrines and spread them in the church. But whatever the source and however it spreads, people are failing to obtain the grace of God and a root of bitterness is springing up and causing trouble. And not only that, but the trouble is causing people to become defiled.

So what do we do to make sure this root does not sprout and spread poison?

Perhaps the verses say it best in and of themselves:

· Don’t allow your mind to turn from being with the Lord;

· Don’t go after and serve other gods;

· Don’t fail to obtain the grace of God;

· Don’t follow those who are a source of disobedience.

Easy to write, harder to do, but absolutely necessary to keep a root from springing up and sprouting and spreading poison and bitterness

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Not Just Idle Words

I own a 25 year old car.  The body might be falling apart but the engine runs great and it idles smoothly.  Such idling is good. Idling can also have to do with spending too much time doing nothing or being without purpose or being engaged in that which is pointless.  Such idling is not good. What if I were to tell you that I know of something that is the about as far as being without purpose as you can get?  Would you want it? Here is that something:  “They are not just idle words for you—they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”  ( Deut 32:47) Other versions of the Bible use some different words for that first phrase in the verse and such can be helpful in assessing how important the words really are: “Not meaningless words…”   “These are not just useless words…”   “No empty word for you…”   “Not unimportant words…”   “Not useless words…”   ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Strengthen Your Core

Supposedly, it’s all about your core! That is, in today’s world of physical fitness, it’s all about strengthening your core.  Your core refers to the group of muscles that support your spine and pelvis, providing stability and enabling movement. It's not just your abs; it includes your back muscles, pelvic floor, and even your diaphragm. When your core is strong, it helps you maintain balance and stability. It can help prevent back injuries and help you maintain better posture. It can also help with athletic performance by allowing for more efficient movement and power transfer. And there are, of course, appropriate exercises to strengthen your core. But there is another kind of core, one that is known as the inner self. The inner self, as described in the Bible, refers to the spiritual and moral part of a person, distinct from the physical body or outer man. And while our physical bodies are important and we certainly feel every ache and pain resulting from injury or even aging, o...
Post a Comment
Read more

Don't Go Knocking or Crossing

I’m sure you’ve heard the expression “knock on wood.”  You’ve probably also heard “keep your fingers crossed.”  “Knock on wood” is a common superstition or good luck charm for people to say in the hope of bringing good fortune or to ward off back luck.  Some will actually knock their knuckles on a piece of wood. “Keep your fingers crossed” is also a common superstition or good luck charm people say in the hope that something good will happen.  Some will physically cross their fingers and maybe even encourage you to do the same with them.   There’s sort of an equivalent in the Bible that predates both expressions: Jeremiah 7:4 says:  Do not trust in deceptive words and say, “This is the temple of the Lord , the temple of the Lord , the temple of the Lord !”  (Jer 7:4) At that time, people had evidently developed a false sense of security in the invincibility of Jerusalem because God dwelt in the temple in Jerusalem .  They used the expre...
Post a Comment
Read more