THE BITTERNESS OF BETRAYAL

“For it is not an enemy who reproaches me; then I could bear it…but it was you, a man my equal, my companion and my acquaintance.” ~ Psalm 55:12-13

REFERENCE:

Psalm 55:4-8 & 12-14

Here, we find David, a man after God’s heart, not worshipping or composing praise songs but in bitter lamentation, dealing with fear, and on the border of depression. He said, “My heart is severely pained within me.” He was so horrified by his recent experience that he wished he had wings like a bird and could fly away from the pain and the horrors of his suicidal thoughts.

David is lamenting the bitterness of betrayal. A betrayal is an act of exposing someone to danger by disloyally giving out secrets you are privy to because of your friendship. David said, “If I was betrayed by an enemy, then I would bear it; but it was you, my colleague, and my acquaintance.” Betrayals are bitter because they are executed by people we trust; people we share a close to an intimate relationship with, or someone with whom we have had a history of cordiality and mutual benefit. It stings deeply when such a person goes behind you to do something to hurt or expose you.

David was referring to Ahithophel, his trusted counselor, who teamed up with his rebelling son, Absalom, telling him how best to overthrow David. When David said, “It is not an enemy who reproaches me…” he meant, “If it was Saul, an avowed enemy, I could handle that, but this came right from my inner circle.” Jesus could handle the hatred and lies of His enemies, the Pharisees, but His betrayal came from His inner circle, hence his response, “Is it with a kiss you betray the Son of man?” When Julius Caesar was assassinated in a coup, he was shocked to see his right-hand man, Marcus Brutus, in the thick of the plot. Before his last breath, he uttered those immortal words about betrayal, “Et tu, Brute?” meaning, “You too Brutus?”

Betrayal is bitter, no matter how you look at it. When a spouse leaves a marriage, and when a close friend snatches a fiancée. When a trusted business partner makes away with money, and when a staff gives company secrets to the competition. When a friend uses your business idea to get the job, and someone in your inner circle joins your rivals to smear your name. Betrayal strikes the heart like a double-edged dagger. If you are dealing with the bitterness of betrayal that may have happened years ago, but you still bleed from the stab in the back, I pray that God heals, comforts, and restores you. Ahithophel betrayed David’s trust, but God turned it around, so David got his throne back. Judas betrayed Jesus, but it led to Jesus’ glorification. God will move you beyond your pain and fulfill His good plans for you. He will bring good people and counsel into your life and turn the bitterness of betrayal into the joy of loyalty.

In the next episode, I will discuss how to deal with betrayal. Don’t miss it!

PHOTO QUOTE

ADDITIONAL TEXTS:

Psalm 41:8-9 & Job 19:13-19

PRAYERS

+ Lord, heal me from the pain of betrayal I presently feel, even if the event happened years ago.

+ Strengthen my heart and give me the resolve to move on with Your plan for my life.

+ Holy Spirit, I put my hands in Yours, that You might lead me through this season of pain into a place of recovery and fulfillment.