Betrayed By a Friend

In The Word

Read: Psalms 55

 

Psalm 55

For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by stringed instruments.

Listen to my prayer, O God.
    Do not ignore my cry for help!
Please listen and answer me,
    for I am overwhelmed by my troubles.
My enemies shout at me,
    making loud and wicked threats.
They bring trouble on me
    and angrily hunt me down.

My heart pounds in my chest.
    The terror of death assaults me.
Fear and trembling overwhelm me,
    and I can’t stop shaking.
Oh, that I had wings like a dove;
    then I would fly away and rest!
I would fly far away
    to the quiet of the wilderness. Interlude
How quickly I would escape—
    far from this wild storm of hatred.

Confuse them, Lord, and frustrate their plans,
    for I see violence and conflict in the city.
10 Its walls are patrolled day and night against invaders,
    but the real danger is wickedness within the city.
11 Everything is falling apart;
    threats and cheating are rampant in the streets.

12 It is not an enemy who taunts me—
    I could bear that.
It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me—
    I could have hidden from them.
13 Instead, it is you—my equal,
    my companion and close friend.
14 What good fellowship we once enjoyed
    as we walked together to the house of God.

15 Let death stalk my enemies;
    let the grave swallow them alive,
    for evil makes its home within them.

16 But I will call on God,
    and the Lord will rescue me.
17 Morning, noon, and night
    I cry out in my distress,
    and the Lord hears my voice.
18 He ransoms me and keeps me safe
    from the battle waged against me,
    though many still oppose me.
19 God, who has ruled forever,
    will hear me and humble them. Interlude
For my enemies refuse to change their ways;
    they do not fear God.

20 As for my companion, he betrayed his friends;
    he broke his promises.
21 His words are as smooth as butter,
    but in his heart is war.
His words are as soothing as lotion,
    but underneath are daggers!

22 Give your burdens to the Lord,
    and he will take care of you.
    He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.

23 But you, O God, will send the wicked
    down to the pit of destruction.
Murderers and liars will die young,
    but I am trusting you to save me.

New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation


Walking In The Word

Sometimes even the people closest to us can let us down. In Mark, Chapter 8, Peter receives a revelation from God when he proclaims that Jesus is the Christ. However just a few verses down, we hear the Lord say to Peter, “…get behind me satan.” Psalm 55:2-3 speaks of David feeling distracted by the voice of the enemy. Jesus may have felt that way when Peter set his mind on what pleased Peter, and not what pleased God.

Of course, we all remember that Judas, one of the Lord’s inner circle of twelve, betrayed Him for thirty pieces of silver. Psalm 55: 3-8 talks about David being under the pressure of the wicked, his heart in anguish, fear and trembling upon him and horror overwhelming him. The Lord probably had some of those same thoughts as He prayed in the Garden of Gesthemane that the cup He was about to drink be removed.

When we face circumstances where we have these same feelings, we need to remember to do what both the Lord and David did. Psalm 55:16 says, “As for me, I shall call upon the Lord.” Psalm 55:22 says, “Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you.”

Don’t let anything distract you from what pleases God. No matter who lets you down, don’t focus on the circumstance. Instead, focus on the One who is in control of the circumstance. He will save you.

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