Stabbed In The Back

Psalm 55:9-23

9Destroy them, Lord, and confuse their speech,

for I see violence and strife in the city.

10Its walls are patrolled day and night against invaders,

but the real danger is wickedness within the city.

11Murder and robbery are everywhere there;

threats and cheating are rampant in the streets.

12It 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.

13Instead, it is you—my equal,

my companion and close friend.

14What good fellowship we enjoyed

as we walked together to the house of God.

15Let death seize my enemies by surprise;

let the grave swallow them alive,

for evil makes its home within them.

16But I will call on God,

and the LORD will rescue me.

17Morning, noon, and night

I plead aloud in my distress,

and the LORD hears my voice.

18He rescues me and keeps me safe

from the battle waged against me,

even though many still oppose me.

19God, who is king forever,

will hear me and will humble them.

Interlude

For my enemies refuse to change their ways;

they do not fear God.

20As for this friend of mine, he betrayed me;

he broke his promises.

21His words are as smooth as cream,

but in his heart is war.

His words are a soothing as lotion,

but underneath are daggers!

22Give your burdens to the LORD,

and he will take care of you.

He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.

23But you, O God, will send the wicked

down to the pit of destruction.

Murderers and liars will die young.

Can you imagine the scene at the Last Supper when Jesus looked around the room and said, “One of you will betray me” (Mark 14:18)? They had to wonder how any of them could betray him.

Eventually Judas Iscariot slipped out quietly, but probably no one thought anything of it since he was the treasurer. Most of the others were probably shocked a few hours later when Judas showed up with a battalion of soldiers.

We assume that Jesus knew all along that Judas would turn on him, but does that lessen the pain of the situation? No doubt he felt deeply the words of Psalm 55, which bemoan the betrayal of a close, trusted friend.

If you have experienced betrayal by a close friend, you can still “give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you” (verse 22).

Cast thy burden upon the Lord,

Only lean upon his Word;

Thou wilt soon have cause to bless

His unchanging faithfulness.

ANONYMOUS

Notable Quotable

“Cast your burden on him [verse 22] in the same way that the ship in a storm casts her burden upon the anchor, which holds on to its sure fixing place.”

J. M. NEALE