ONE OF THE darkest times in my life was when I allowed bitterness to root and grow in my heart. I was hurt. I refused to forgive or to risk being hurt again. My whole person was becoming engulfed by this monstrous plant that was growing inside of me. Others were defiled by it. If I had continued to disobey God in this way, I would have been destroyed.
Saul, ancient Israel's first king, knew those feelings. They were directed toward David, a young man from the hill country. David had changed the course of a forty-day stand-off with the Philistine army by singlehandedly killing their giant leader. Suddenly, all the people were praising this boy from the sheep pastures. Rumor had it that David would someday be king.
Warming Up to God
How do you usually respond when you are afraid that someone or something important to you will be taken away?
Read 1 Samuel 18. »
Discovering the Word
What causes can you find for Saul's hostile feelings?
Often, if not always, behind anger is fear. What specifically was Saul afraid of (vv. 8,12, 15, 28)?
How was Saul affected by the bitterness that he allowed to grow within himself?
What do you think is the difference between anger and bitterness?
What evidence is there that the problem became not only an emotional but a spiritual battle (vv. 10, 12, 28)?
What warnings do we get from this passage about the destructive nature of bitterness?
Applying the Word
Think about a time when you were bitter. What were you afraid of?
How was your relationship with others affected?
How was your relationship with God affected?
Responding in Prayer
Ask God to help you recognize the fears and/or anger in you that could lead to bitterness. Ask him to make you sensitive to those fears in others.
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