Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 54 NET, Ch. 55 NLV, Ch. 56 ESV

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Thoughts

A psalm of David in which he has been greatly hurt by his enemies, especially one who had been a trusted friend and ally. 

12 I would be able to take it if one who hates me were putting me to shame. I could hide from him. It is not one who hates me who has put himself up against me. 13 But it is you, a man like myself, one who has gone with me, my close friend. 14 We shared together. And we walked with the people in the house of God.

This person is not identified, but it seems more than likely that it is Ahithophel, who was a trusted counselor to David. During Absalom’s revolt against his father, Ahithophel deserted David and supported Absalm.

Not only did David have to deal with the heartbreak of his own son turning against him, but that of one who gave him counsel, helped him, and knew his idiosyncrasies, strengths and weaknesses. 

20 He goes against those who were at peace with him. He has broken his agreement. 21 What he says is smoother than butter, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, yet they are raised swords.

Have you ever been betrayed by someone close to you? Someone you trusted? It’s a heartbreak unlike any other. But such is the condition of the human heart. Who can trust it?

The first time it happened to me was when I was a young teenager, maybe 12 or 13 years old. I don’t remember my exact age, but a friend of mine who lived a few doors down from me, someone whom I had been friends with since about the fourth or fifth grade, broke into our garage when my family and I were out of town on a vacation. When we got home, I found that the tires on my minibike had been stolen. As it turned out, it was this friend and some other boys who had done the deed. I couldn’t believe it. I was crushed, and it took a long time to get over it. I couldn’t trust him. I’ve forgiven him in the intervening years, but we never spoke again.  

But David knows who can be trusted:

22 Give all your cares to the Lord and He will give you strength. He will never let those who are right with Him be shaken.

Yes, the betrayal of a friend cuts deep, but we do have Someone who will never let us down.