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

Can't Get No Satisfaction

One of the songs that were popular in my youth was not particularly upbeat or helpful but it probably did express some of the angst of my generation.  It was not one that particularly resonated with me but as I recently read the book of Haggai, it did come to mind, well, at least some of the lyrics did.  It was the Rolling Stones song with the lyrics “I can’t get no satisfaction”.  Take a look at the chorus of that bleak song:   I can't get no satisfaction; I can't get no satisfaction; Gonna try and I try and I try and I try; I can't get no - I can't get no –   Now take a look at Haggai 1:6 – “ You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.” It sure sounds like the people of Judah couldn’t get any satisfaction with the things of life that normally should have brought some type of s...
Post a Comment
Read more

A Horse Of Course

In Biblical times, horses represented military power and strength.  And if you had both horses and chariots, well, that was the ultimate of military powers and wars were often won with them. Yet in seeking to have what would normally be considered insurmountable military strength, there was one factor that was often overlooked.  The Psalmist made it clear what that factor was when he wrote:  “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”   (Ps 20:7) While Israel did at times trust in the name of the Lord, there were other times when they tried to trust in horses and chariots to win their battles.  This is what the Lord spoke to Israel through the prophet Isaiah:  “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help,   who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots   and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the Lord .”  ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Stouthearted!

Steve the Stouthearted; it has a nice medieval ring to it, maybe even middle earth overtones.  I noticed that word “stouthearted” recently in Psalm 138, verse 3:   “When I called, you answered me; you made me bold and stouthearted.”   (NIV, 1973) The word stouthearted is used in the Bible to describe individuals who exhibit courage, determination, and resilience, often in the face of adversity or opposition. This characteristic is seen as a virtue, reflecting steadfastness in faith and purpose. The stouthearted are those who remain firm in their convictions and are not easily swayed by fear or doubt (from The Bible Hub website). And yet to be bold and stouthearted for most is not something that just comes naturally, we need the Lord to make us bold and stouthearted.   And, from the verse above, it appears that he does so in response to us calling on him.   So it probably wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to say that those who have been made bold and stouth...
Post a Comment
Read more