Sticky
Twisted
Contaminated
Stained
Polluted
Poisoned
Corrupt
infected
Foul
Mucky
Dark
Menacing
Justifying
A few words to describe the molten lava that destroys the innards of a human being who has been caught in the vice of bitterness. God has nothing good to say about unforgiveness and bitterness.
“Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the Lord our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood; And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst: The Lord will not spare him, but then the anger of the Lord and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the Lord shall blot out his name from under heaven.”
Deuteronomy 29:18-20
This is a hard word. You might say to yourself, well, I don’t serve other gods. By putting oneself on God’s throne, to decide if someone is good or bad or if their deeds are worth forgiving or not, one is then choosing to worship self or choose self over God’s word and their own thoughts and justifications. To remain bitter and to share the unforgiveness with others is worse. Be careful to allow the Lord to be the judge and let Vengeance belong to Him.
“Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;”
Hebrews 12:15
“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”
Romans 12:19
“But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:15
Credit for the following: https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/wormwood/
Wormwood.[N][E]
Four kinds of wormwood are found in Palestine– Artemisia nilotica , A. Judaica , A. fructicosa and A. cinerea . The word occurs frequently in the Bible, and generally in a metaphorical sense. In ( Jeremiah 9:15 ; 23:15 ; Lamentations 3:15 Lamentations 3:19 ) wormwood is symbolical of bitter calamity and sorrow; unrighteous judges are said to “turn judgment to wormwood.” ( Amos 5:7 ) The Orientals typified sorrows, cruelties and calamities of any kind by plants of a poisonous or bitter nature.
Bibliography Information
Smith, William, Dr. “Entry for ‘Wormwood'”. “Smith’s Bible Dictionary”. . 1901.
Good word! Bitterness and unforgiveness are like a cancer that takes over body, soul, mind and spirit. Who are we not to forgive when we have been forgiven so much by the creator of the universe?! His desire is that we become more like Him, pure of heart, long-suffering, yearning and striving to become more like Jesus everyday. Thanks for the reminder!!
Yes, yes, yes!