Psalm 055 - Betrayal - Aneel Aranha

Listen to my prayer, O God,
do not ignore my plea;
hear me and answer me.
My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught
because of what my enemy is saying,
because of the threats of the wicked;
for they bring down suffering on me
and assail me in their anger.
My heart is in anguish within me;
the terrors of death have fallen on me.
Fear and trembling have beset me;
horror has overwhelmed me.
I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove!
I would fly away and be at rest.
I would flee far away
and stay in the desert;
I would hurry to my place of shelter,
far from the tempest and storm. ”
Lord, confuse the wicked, confound their words,
for I see violence and strife in the city.
Day and night they prowl about on its walls;
malice and abuse are within it.
Destructive forces are at work in the city;
threats and lies never leave its streets.
If an enemy were insulting me,
I could endure it;
if a foe were rising against me,
I could hide.
But it is you, a man like myself,
my companion, my close friend,
with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship
at the house of God,
as we walked about
among the worshipers.
Let death take my enemies by surprise;
let them go down alive to the realm of the dead,
for evil finds lodging among them.
As for me, I call to God,
and the LORD saves me.
Evening, morning and noon
I cry out in distress,
and he hears my voice.
He rescues me unharmed
from the battle waged against me,
even though many oppose me.
God, who is enthroned from of old,
who does not change—
he will hear them and humble them,
because they have no fear of God.
My companion attacks his friends;
he violates his covenant.
His talk is smooth as butter,
yet war is in his heart;
his words are more soothing than oil,
yet they are drawn swords.
Cast your cares on the LORD
and he will sustain you;
he will never let
the righteous be shaken.
But you, God, will bring down the wicked
into the pit of decay;
the bloodthirsty and deceitful
will not live out half their days.
But as for me, I trust in you.

Psalm 55 is a profoundly emotional prayer of King David as he tries to deal with the pain of betrayal by a friend. We don't know who the betrayer is, but in any event, the psalm focuses more on David's response to betrayal and his trust in God rather than the individual who betrayed him.

I am sure that all of us who have been betrayed can relate to the anguish described by David, especially if the person is a trusted companion. David wishes he could fly away like a dove to find rest from the turmoil in his heart and mind, something else we can all relate to.

How do we deal with betrayal? We can do what David did. One, he was honest in his prayer. David does not hold back his pain, confusion, and longing for justice. We, too, can approach God with authenticity, sharing our deepest hurts, fears, and frustrations. 

Two, David found refuge in God. Despite his turmoil, David casts his burdens on God, knowing he would take him through his struggle. We must remind ourselves that in the face of betrayal and the upending of our world, God is our safe haven, source of comfort, and strength.

Three, he trusted in God's justice. David knows that God sees all and will eventually deal with the wicked. While betrayal can be painful and disheartening, we can take comfort in knowing that God is a just God who sees every action and will bring about justice in his perfect timing.

Four, David looked forward to a restoration of relationships. Towards the end of the psalm, David expresses a desire for peace and restoration, even with his betrayer. While this may not always be possible immediately, we should extend grace and forgiveness toward the people who have hurt us and work towards healing broken relationships when feasible.

God bless you.