See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. -Hebrews 12:15
Over the last year I have had the opportunity to share with numerous people how bitterness had destroyed my relationship with God and how it affected my relationship with everyone around me. It would be fair to say there were “legitimate claims” I could make about someone or something wronging me much in the same way there might be for those reading this. The problem began when I dwelled on the hurt and started sowing a seed or root of bitterness. The issues I had went unresolved and eventually destroyed me. In the end, like the verse above says, not only caused trouble but defiled many. As I began to share my testimony with people I would meet there was always this one line that would come out of my mouth. I said, “We are filled with hatred and bitterness at those who wronged us but have you noticed as bitterness begins to take over our lives we become very similar to that which we are angry at.” Usually the person would agree with me and share an example from their past and as we left each other I felt like the point had gotten across.
Recently, I have been studying greatly through the life of King David in I and II Samuel. I came across a story line about one of David’s sons, Absalom, that in my opinion portrays like no other this idea of sowing a bitter root and it defiling many. It begins in II Samuel 13 with David’s first born son Amnon having a shameful lust for his half sister Tamar. So much so that it made him sick for her and with the wicked advice of a friend he forcefully raped her against her will. Tamar’s full brother Absalom became angry and two years later murdered Amnon. Absalom, we might say, had a legitimate reason to be angry after his sister was abused. When David did nothing to punish Amnon there was a root of bitterness begun in the heart of Absalom. He took justice into his own hands and enacted revenge against his brother for the sake of his sister. I will admit it is very hard not to like Absalom up to this point. We may even like the fact Amnon “got what he deserved” and maybe even a few of us would have at least wanted to seek revenge much in the same way. The old saying is true that two wrongs never make a right and we see Absalom not allowing room for vengeance to be left in the hands of the Lord. We see that Absalom is just as lawless as his brother and the rest of Absalom’s life is dominated with the theme of bitterness and revenge.
For the sake of space, I would encourage others to continue reading through the life of Absalom in II Samuel chapters 13-18. You will see how Absalom is reunited with David after he was once banished from the kingdom. There were outward gestures of love but inwardly his heart was burning with evil. You will see how Absalom desired to overthrow his father and become king by conspiring and leading a revolt against him. Absalom’s heart continues to grow further and further away from God to the point of him committing the exact same sin, times 10, which his deceased brother Amnon committed against his sister. As David fled the kingdom, Absalom received unwise council from Ahithophel, who was Bathsheba’s grandfather. Ahithophel, was of course still very bitter of David’s adultery with Bathsheba and was willing to see harm come against others in order to see revenge come against David. (I will use this illustration again in another post in the near future about where and whom we seek counsel from. Any idiot can tell you what you want to hear but only a wise counselor will point you to what God says!) He counseled Absalom to sleep with 10 of his father’s concubines, or legal mistresses if you will, and it is widely evident at this point that he is no longer thinking in a right frame of mind. Full of pride he is counseled to lead his troops into battle and eventually he is killed. He is caught hanging by his head in the thick branches of a tree when his mule goes underneath it. As he hangs there in the tree he is pierced with spears straight into his wicked heart. Innocent people suffered due to Absalom’s sin and the ten concubines faced consequences for the rest of their lives. Bitterness caused trouble and it defiled many!
I understand with all of the names it might be a little confusing but we must remember one thing. Absalom became exactly like what he hated and even more. His bitterness led him to become a murderer, a rapist times ten as well as a traitor to his father. This story might make better sense if we make it relevant to our own lives. Because I have dealt with bitterness in my past I know first hand admitting to being bitter is not an easy thing or an enjoyable thing to do. Much like Absalom my past bitterness allowed me to become in the world’s eyes worse than those I had originally been angry at. Everyone else can see it so why not take a serious inventory into each one of our lives (me included) and determine if we have made room for a bitter root. Maybe even insert your name into the place of some of the characters in the story and see if that might possibly characterize your heart. I pray if we are made aware of any root that we will take the next steps in seeking repentance and ask God to change us. Every bitter root will lead to bitter fruit and every bitter fruit when bitten will lead to destruction. We all need the grace of God!
