The last words of King David were spoken to his son Solomon and are recorded in 1 Kings. The dying ruler, speaking of his enemy Shimei, said, "Bring his gray hair down to Sheol with blood" (1 Kings 2:9). Shimei was the man who had thrown rocks at David and cursed him as he left Jerusalem in disgrace (see 2 Sam. 16:5-14).Earlier, David had told his men to leave Shimei alone. Now, on his deathbed, this king who was once described as a man after God's own heart (see 1 Sam. 13:14) talks like a dying gangster putting out a contract on a guy's life. Why did he change his mind about punishing his enemy? Why were David's last words vengeful and bitter?
Do you know any people like that? Filled to the brim with resentment and enslaved to a critical attitude? Enslaved to a critical attitude about everyone and everything? How many times have you walked away from such a person and silently prayed, "Please, Lord, don't allow me to become like that person"?
Now, consider the way another Bible character, Abraham, approached his death. "Abraham breathed his last and died in a ripe old age, an old man and satisfied with life" (Gen. 25:8). It is my hope to approach the end of life like this, not as David did.
People don't become bitter overnight. Bitterness comes as a result of choices-many wrong choices. The way we live and handle our relationships today will determine our countenance and attitudes when we are in our sixties, seventies, eighties-and on our deathbeds. David allowed the seed of bitterness to sprout and flourish in the garden of his mind over many years.
Hebrews 12:15 warns us to not let a "root of bitterness" spring up in our lives. We can dig up the seeds of bitterness before they take root, or cut the young roots out now, digging them up, roots and all.