We don’t know when Psalm 55 was written, but it’s possible it was written during Absalom’s rebellion against David.
During that time, one of David’s former counselors, a man named Ahithophel, turned his back on David and sided with Absalom. A possible reason for this, I have noted in another blog.
And now in exile, David is in despair, saying,
Listen to my prayer, O God,
do not ignore my plea;
hear me and answer me.My thoughts trouble me
and I am distraught at the voice of the enemy,
at the stares of the wicked;
for they bring down suffering upon me
and revile me in their anger.My heart is in anguish within me;
the terrors of death assail me. (Psalm 55:1-4)
After further laments, he says,
If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it;
if a foe were raising himself against me,
I could hide from him.But it is you, a man like myself,
my companion, my close friend,
with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship
as we walked with the throng at the house of God. (12-14)
And again,
My companion attacks his friends;
he violates his covenant.His speech is smooth as butter,
yet war is in his heart;
his words are more soothing than oil,
yet they are drawn swords. (20-21)
It’s a painful thing to be betrayed by a friend. To have someone whom you loved not only turn their backs on you, but go out of their way to hurt you.
They put up a front pretending to be your friend, but when your back is turned, the knife goes in.
It can be especially painful if it’s not just a friend, but a husband or wife. And maybe because of their betrayal, you find it hard to ever trust anyone again. Not only people, but God himself.
But remember that Jesus himself knew the pain of betrayal, suffering at the hands of Judas. And so Jesus knows exactly how you feel.
More than that, he will never betray you. Rather, he will always be faithful to you.
David knew this, and so he sang,
But I call to God, and the LORD saves me. Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. He ransoms me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me. (16-18)
In other words, though others may turn their backs on us, God never will. So David tells us,
Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. (22)
And he concludes by crying out in faith,
As for me, I trust in you. (23)
Have you been betrayed? Are you finding it hard to trust again? Don’t let your pain consume you.
Instead, put your trust in the One who will not fail you. Cast your cares and your hurts upon him, and he will bring healing in your life.
Moment to Moment (Bible blog) 