The Pain of Bitterness

1 Samuel 13:5-14

Bitterness is never a legitimate response for a child of God. It poisons the
mind, the emotions, and the spirit. When did this resentful attitude take
root
in King Saul? Let's look at two events in his life for clues.

Saul couldn't go to battle until Samuel the prophet arrived to offer the
burnt sacrifice as God had commanded. During the wait, Saul's men became
terrified
of the enemy and started to leave, so the king took action and made the
sacred offering himself. He may have thought, This has to be done right
away. Why
shouldn't I do it? He failed to see the necessity of obeying divine commands
to the letter. God viewed this

as a serious act of rebellion, which would lead to judgment: Saul's kingdom
wouldn't endure. God would one day appoint someone else to take over as
ruler
instead of Saul's descendants. Imagine Saul's reaction to hearing the
kingdom would not belong to his family.

During the war against the Amalekites, King Saul once again failed to follow
the Lord's instructions fully. When confronted by Samuel about his misdeed,
he lied and claimed that he had obeyed; later, however, Saul attempted to
justify his disobedience. His unrepentant heart grieved the Lord and
resulted
in further judgment: he, the king, was now rejected by God (1 Samuel
15:10-11, 26).

I believe Saul's descent into bitterness began with the news that his
disobedience would cost him the kingdom. Be sure to take your
disappointments and
anger immediately to the Lord. Pour them out before Him, and ask Him to help
you let them go. Your spiritual health depends on it.


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