Have you been betrayed by a friend before? Have you been betrayed by one who would called himself your friend, your brother? It feels as if you confided in an enemy. Why would you do such a thing? You might wonder what feelings you had that made you tell this man your heart, feel as if he was a good acquaintance, only to have him stab you in the back.
Has there been many of these enemies? Perhaps this friend is many people grouped into one. After all, Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery. These were many, how would it feel to be betrayed by so many?
The psalmist of Psalm 55 reflects on this betrayal. The Psalm of David says,
“For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance”
Psalm 55:12-13
The man was a guide, an equal. Perhaps you both held in common the worship of the LORD, walking into the house of God in company. Yet, when he was in the position to destroy you, he did. When he had the power to, he set a trap for you. What did you feel?
Perhaps you desired to have wings like a dove? Then you might fly away and have rest? Would you wander far off and remain in the wilderness? Yet, you remain where the enemy can rip you, and tear you. You are forced to see the mischief and sorrow caused by them. You feel the fearfulness and trembling they cause you, and you experience horror for their actions. The heart is pained, death feels near, and you can feel the hatred from their tongue, and from their words.
Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication! This prayer may sound familiar to many, for it is a common request from each of us. As we breathe, I am compassed about with enemies who seek to destroy me. Standing for the LORD has caused one who would be my defender to become my oppressor. Standing for my belief in Christ has caused one who would be my family to become my hated enemy. But their sin is what causes this, for I hate them with a perfect hatred, for they stand for unrighteousness, and therefore I want no part in them. They fear not God, and have broken their covenant with me.
Does this cause distress? Seeing those who would be loved by you turn against you and want to kill you? This is why David put his trust in God alone.
“Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved”
Psalm 55:22
Our friends might betray us, but God will never forsake us. If a “friend” shows himself to be friendly, is he really a friend? Be careful, for your closest friends may be devils, as Judas was. The Lord Jesus called Judas a friend, and Christ knew who Judas was and what he would do. Our friends will betray us, our guides will try to destroy us, but if God be for us, who can be against us?
O Lord, please calm my troubled mind. My friend is now my enemy, and I have none that can help me but thee. Please help me, for my enemy has created an army against me, but in thee I can be safe. In thou alone can I trust, for all else seek my destruction. In Jesus I am safe evermore. Amen
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