It Was My Friend

Draft, under review

Psalm 55:12–22

12For it is not an enemy who insults me; that I could endure. It is not a foe who rises against me; from him I could hide.

13But it is you, a man like myself, my companion and close friend.

14We shared sweet fellowship together; we walked with the crowd into the house of God.

15Let death seize them by surprise; let them go down to Sheol alive, for evil is with them in their homes.

16But I call to God, and the Lord saves me.

17Morning, noon, and night, I cry out in distress, and He hears my voice.

18He redeems my soul in peace from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me.

19God will hear and humiliate them—the One enthroned for the ages—Selah because they do not change and they have no fear of God.

20My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant.

21His speech is smooth as butter, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, yet they are swords unsheathed.

22Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.

Berean Standard Bible. Read the full chapter

Reflection

Some wounds you can brace for. An enemy's attack hurts, but it doesn't surprise you. David says that if an enemy had mocked him, he could have endured it, or hidden from him (Ps 55:12). The person who hurt him was a companion, someone he knew well, someone he once shared sweet fellowship with as they walked to God's house together (Ps 55:13–14). That is why betrayal cuts so deep. The closeness that made the friendship good is the very thing that makes the wound worse.

Notice what David does with it. He doesn't tidy up his feelings. He wants wings to fly far away (Ps 55:6–7). He describes the friend's smooth words that hid drawn swords (Ps 55:21). He tells God all of it, evening, morning and noon (Ps 55:17). Lament is not a lack of faith. It is faith speaking honestly to the One who can bear the weight.

Then he turns: give the weight you carry to the Lord; He will hold you up (Ps 55:22). That isn't a promise that the friendship will be restored, or that the hurt will vanish quickly. It is a promise that you will be held.

Jesus knew this psalm from the inside. A friend who had shared His bread turned against Him (Ps 41:9; John 13:18), and a kiss handed Him over (Luke 22:48). He entrusted Himself to the Father who judges justly (1 Pet 2:23), and He rose. Your wound is known to Him. If carrying this alone is too heavy, tell someone near you today.

Word study: verified (STEPBible)

alluph (Hebrew, Strong's H441): close friend, intimate companion (Ps 55:13; Hebrew 55:14). The pain of the psalm is measured by this word. The remedy is yehab (burden, H3053), cast on the Lord in Ps 55:22 (Hebrew 55:23).

Cross-reference trail

  1. Ps 41:9: A trusted friend turns against him.
  2. Luke 22:48: Betrayed with a kiss.
  3. 1 Pet 2:23: Entrusting Himself to the righteous Judge.
  4. 1 Pet 5:7: Cast your cares on Him.
  5. Gen 50:20: What others meant for evil.

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Prayer

Lord, You know what it is to be betrayed; I lay this weight on You, and ask You to hold me. Amen.

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