An Idea Borrowed

Years ago on a radio program someone shared that they read a chapter in Proverbs every day. Since there are 31 chapters and the longest month has 31 days it allows you to read through Proverbs on a regular basis. I use it as the launch pad for my personal worship time and branch out from there. On this blog I will try to share some of the insights I have in the Word. I will try to organize them in the archive by reference.

Monday, April 14, 2014

A Bitter Heart

(Pro 14:10 KJV)  The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.

Didn’t a famous politician say something to the effect, “I feel your pain”?  He lied.  It was just a sound bite.  Pain can handicap our lives.  Even worse is “bitterness” (4787a).  Bitterness can destroy.

This is the only place this specific word is used in the Bible but there are forms of it that appear at other places.  One well known place is in the book of Ruth.
(Rth 1:20 KJV)  And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.
“Mara” is another form of this word.  It gives us an insight into what “bitterness” means to a life.  Naomi had lost all she loved.  She was totally defeated.  We was giving up on life and hope.  Eventually Ruth helps her out of this but it could have been the end of her.

Our answer to bitterness is rooted in a living faith in a living God.  It is founded on a trust that God is active even when we don’t see or feel it.

So?  It may be a bad day.  It could have been a bad year.  Keep your eyes on Jesus and your hope alive.  Don’t give in to a poisoned heart. 

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