The Lord says:
"My people shall be set free from bitterness! My people shall walk in healing and sweet waters! Even when you've been betrayed, unfairly treated, taken advantage of, or falsely accused of, do not take matters into your own hands. For I have spoken, 'Vengeance is Mine, and I shall repay'. Trust in Me and look to Me instead, and I will cause you to see your vindication in due time!"
Have you been in a situation when you've been betrayed, unfairly treated, taken advantage of, or falsely accused of something? Take heart, because the Lord knows how to vindicate you and defend you, when you look to Him. Romans 12:19 (NKJV) says, 'Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord'. Romans 12:19 (NLT) says it this way, 'Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, "I will take revenge; I will pay them back," says the Lord'.
I would like to point you to someone named Absalom in the Bible. It was a tragic ending for him, but it needn't have been so. Indeed, we have much to learn not just from the success stories in the Bible, but also the tragic stories in the Bible.
Absalom has always been portrayed in a bad light in Bible studies. But the truth is he did not become bad overnight! In fact, he started off as a good boy and a good brother! It was only after his beloved sister (Tamar) was raped by his half-brother (Amnon) that he allowed bitterness to set in, and unfortunately, this bitterness in him grew! (see 2 Samuel 13:1-21)
Here, we learn bitterness (that is not dealt with) will lead to a person committing more and more wrongs. The Bible says Absalom hated Amnon because he (Amnon) had forced himself on his sister Tamar (2 Samuel 13:21). Revenge has been in his mind since then. And he waited two full years before he finally got his opportunity - by getting his servants to kill a drunk Amnon at a feast! (2 Samuel 13:23-29)
Instead of looking to the Lord and letting the Lord take over, Absalom took matters into his own hands. As a consequence, he had no choice but to flee (2 Samuel 13:37-38). Not many years after that, he rebelled against his own father (David), usurping his own father's reign as king (2 Samuel 15:1-6). The Bible says he stole the hearts of the men of Israel (2 Samuel 15:6).
Now, the big question is why did Absalom eventually conspire to topple his own father (David)? Here are the likely root causes. Maybe he felt his father had not done enough to protect his beloved sister? Or maybe he felt his father had not done enough justice as the head of the family? In other words, Absalom kept hurts against his own father. For the record, Amnon was the eldest son of King David, whereas Absalom was the third son (from a different mother). So, there's always a possibility that Absalom felt his own family had not been treated fairly, or given enough attention. In a polygamous family like David's, there're bound to be jealousies, insecurities, conspiracies, and competition among the wives and children (from the different mothers).
Beloved, maybe you too feel your own parents (or leaders, superiors, comrades, etc) have not done enough for you, or have failed you? Forgive. Let go. Don't let bitterness set in and grow any further. Look to the Lord instead, because He loves you, and He knows how to take over from here. Receive your healing waters from heaven right now.
Cut the long story short, Absalom eventually died during a battle with his own father's army (2 Samuel 18:9-15). It needn't have been so. What a tragic ending to someone who was so talented and full of charisma; someone who could have been greatly used by the Lord for His kingdom. Upon hearing the news of Absalom's death, David wept bitterly and mourned for his son (2 Samuel 18:33).
Lesson learned. Bitterness kills. It's not worth it at all to keep bitterness in our soul. One thing will lead to another, and it only leads to further misery. Be set free therefore from bitterness, and begin to walk in healing and sweet waters. Amen.
