“For it is not an enemy who taunts me— then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me— then I could hide from him. But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend” (Psalm 55:12-13 ESV).
In David’s 55th psalm, he expressed the painful sorrow of being betrayed by a friend. It seems certain that he was describing the betrayal of his confidant and counselor, Ahithophel. For when David’s son, Absalom rebelled against his father and sought to take the throne, Ahithophel joined with the conspirators (See 2 Sam. 15:31).
This psalm also has a prophetic sense. For it points to the betrayal of David’s future son, the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who was betrayed by one of his very own disciples, Judas Iscariot. The pain of betrayal was expressed by Jesus when he asked, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” (Luke 22:48).
Yet both betrayers ended their own lives at the end of a rope. For both Ahithophel and Judas hung themselves (2 Sam. 17:23; Matt. 27:5). Betrayal is a bitter thing.
Why do these stories from David’s life repeat themselves in the life of Jesus? Didn’t the Lord give them as signs pointing to Jesus as Messiah? As Jesus said to those Jewish leaders who refused to believe in him, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me” (John 5:39-40).
They refused to believe how Jesus fulfilled the very Scriptures that they studied. Do you see how Jesus has fulfilled the Scriptures? Even his betrayal by a friend?
PRAYER: Dear Father, we have heard Your Word and believed in Your Son, Jesus. We are amazed that You would send Him to save us even while we were yet sinners. Thank You. Strengthen us this day to declare the Word of the gospel to others. In Jesus’ name, amen.