-10 Min Read
Introduction
We have all seen movies and read books where there is a betrayal by one of the story’s main characters at the suspenseful end and have felt the sick feeling it brings. The very expression, “Stabbed in the back” describes the feeling all too well. Betrayal is when someone’s closest loved one turns against them and becomes their enemy. On the battlefield, our backs are turned to our allies and we are facing the enemy we are in combat with. To be stabbed in the back is the most ancient form of betrayal. It is being slain by an assumed-to-be friend, not the known enemy. The act of betrayal can be seen in many different ways but it is always done to ruin or harm the person being betrayed. How are we as Christians called to handle being betrayed?
The Sorrow of Betrayal
(Psalm 55)
The Psalter is always a great place to go when in a state of sorrow. Singing the sorrows of one’s heart to God is an excellent way to communicate with Him. In Psalm 55, David leads us in a song of deliverance and security. He begins by explaining the reasons for his cries and supplications in verses 2-3:
I am restless in my complaint and am surely distracted,
– Psalm 55:2-3 (LSB)
3 Because of the voice of the enemy,
Because of the pressure of the wicked;
For they shake wickedness down upon me
And in anger they bear a grudge against me.
David’s song goes on to explain how his “heart is in anguish“, “the terrors of death” fall upon him (v.4), “fear and trembling” have come upon him, and “horror has covered” him (v.5). The grudge, pressure, and voice of the enemy has brought David to a place where he cannot stand. Though David ends the song declaring how God “will never allow the righteous to be shaken” (v.22), in the beginning, David is in distress from his opponents shaking wickedness down upon him (v.3).
David then reveals that this persecution comes from a “familiar friend“.
For it is not an enemy who reproaches me,
– Psalm 55:12-15 (LSB)
Then I could bear it;
Nor is it one who hates me who has magnified himself against me,
Then I could hide myself from him.
13 But it is you, a man my equal,
My close companion and my familiar friend;
14 We who had sweet counsel together
Walked in the house of God in the throng.
15 Let death come deceitfully upon them;
Let them go down alive to Sheol,
For evil is in their dwelling, in their midst.
David expresses how if the wounds were inflicted by a known enemy, then he “could bear it“. But because it was done by his “equal,” his “close companion,” he can barely stand it. In this place of anguish, David envokes “death” as personified, to come to the traitor and drag him alive down to Sheol. This is serious language for serious pain.
David speaks plainly as to what he wants for the friend who betrayed him. That is what is so unsettling to us. It rubs the Christian’s funny bone the wrong way and there seems to be something off about this. Is it okay for believers to wish for this kind of retribution upon those who have wronged us? Can we really sing Psalm 55? Yes; yes we can.
It is clear from Psalm 55 that it is more than okay for suffering Christians to cry out to God for justice when they are wronged. We read in the book of Revelation that the martyred saints, who are waiting in heaven, cry out to God “with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Master, holy and true? Will You not judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” (Rev. 6:10). The reply to their cry is not rebuke, but more comfort given until their prayers are answered.
And a white robe was given to each of them; and it was told to them that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow slaves and their brothers who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also.
– Revelation 6:11 (LSB)
In other words, they will be given what they’re asking for. It is simply a matter of timing. We then read at the opening of the seventh seal that God begins to answer their prayers.
And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense went up with the prayers of the saints, out of the angel’s hand, before God. 5 Then the angel took the censer and filled it with the fire of the altar, and threw it to the earth; and there followed peals of thunder and sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake.
– Revelation 8:3-5 (LSB)
This does not mean that we withhold forgiveness, for forgiveness is not optional (Matt 6:14-15; 18:21-35). But it does mean that we can simultaneously ask God to avenge us. Betrayal, though as devastating as it is, is not an unforgivable sin. Christ can, and does, atone for these sins that humans commit against each other.
David continues the song by poetically unpacking this violation and treason.
My companion has put forth his hands against those who were at peace with him;
– Psalm 55:20-21 (LSB)
He has violated his covenant.
21 His speech was smoother than butter,
But his heart was war;
His words were softer than oil,
Yet they were drawn swords.
David articulates the treacherous ways of his betrayer. This person either literally broke a covenant or is portrayed by David as a covenant-breaker. In either case, it communicates to us the devastation of David’s heart. This was someone who was a close companion to David and betrayed him in this most devious way. Because of this, David must go to God and cast his burden upon Him.
Cast your burden upon Yahweh and He will sustain you;
– Psalm 55:22-23 (LSB)
He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.
23 But You, O God, will bring them down to the pit of corruption;
Men of bloodshed and deceit will not live out half their days.
But I will trust in You.
Observe the contrast between our God and the betraying friend. One is faithful and the other is not. One sustains us, the other seeks to destroy us. Psalm 55 is a great song for us to sing when we fall into the hands of the betrayer. It reminds us that God is ultimately our deliverer and that we, like David, can put our trust in God.
Lessons From Our Lord
According to the New Testament, Christians are expected to be betrayed. Jesus makes the record clear when talking about the state of the world leading up to His second coming. He explains that He has indeed come to bring about division in the family and society.
Do you think that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division; 52 for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
– Luke 12:51-53 (LSB)
For those who receive the gospel and believe in Jesus, they will become at odds with those in their family who do not. This is because they are the ones who changed. They were made alive unto Christ, they have been made a new creature in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17), and so they have been called out of darkness and into the light (Col. 1:13). Jesus further explains by describing how exactly this divided family will be at odds.
Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. 10 And at that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another.
– Matthew 24:9-10 (LSB)
But you will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death, 17 and you will be hated by all because of My name.
– Luke 21:16-17 (LSB)
Jesus’ words are clear; we should expect persecution for following Him and that may be seen in the form of betrayal. This is something that is not only foretold by Christ through His teaching but also by His example. Jesus suffered the darkest form of betrayal known to mankind. God ordained betrayal to be the very means to achieve His glorious purpose in the cross of Christ. Judas was a chosen instrument of wrath in God’s plan of redemption.
The religious leaders made several attempts and conspired together many times to kill Jesus, but they could never pull it off (Matt. 26:4; Mark 14:1; Luke 20:19-20; 22:2; John 5:18; 7:1; 11:53). This was because it was predetermined before all time for Judas to be the one to begin this evil work. This was the very purpose for which Judas was born.
The Son of Man is going, just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.”
– Matthew 26:24 (LSB)
Jesus knew of the betrayal before the night of the Passover, before He appointed Judas as an apostle and before He created the universe. This is why, after Satan entered into Judas, Jesus tells him; “What you do, do quickly” (John 13:27). Betrayal, an awful sin, was the sin determined to be the first domino to fall in the long line of evil that would nail our Lord to the cross.
“Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God did through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know— 23 this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of lawless men and put Him to death.
– Acts 2:22-23 (LSB)
Betrayal should come as no surprise to the Christian. If our Lord was treated this way then we as His disciples should expect nothing less (Acts 5:41-42; 1 Peter 2:19-23). As time goes on, hostility towards Christians will increase more and more. If we would be counted worthy to suffer in the same way as our Lord did, may we gladly receive it as a choice wine of suffering to which our Lord drank [1]. We can look to Christ as the perfect model who endured betrayal and the suffering it brings, for He considered the joy set before Him and so He endured the cross (Hebrews 12:2).
Peace In Christ
“If God be our God, He will give us peace in trouble. When there is a storm without, He will make peace within. The world can create trouble in peace, but God can create peace in trouble”
– Thomas Watson [2]
Just because we are Christians, it does not mean that we become immune to suffering hardships such as betrayal. But it does mean that we can find peace in it because we know the Author of peace. By being reconciled to God we have peace in Christ Jesus. William Gurnall says Christians possess four kinds of peace; peace with God, peace of conscience, peace with one another (believers), and “peace with the other creatures (unbelievers), even the most hurtful” [3]. By knowing Christ, we know peace. In Him, we can have a peace that surpasses all understanding (Phil. 4:7).
One of the great challenges of enduring betrayal is knowing how to move on. For the person who has been betrayed by their spouse, parent, child, or friend, it can be hard to understand what then to do. After the appropriate time of grief has passed, the Christian can find comfortable rest in the peace Christ has purchased for them. We can enjoy peace amid the betrayal because we know that God ordained it.
Christians who enjoy the most peace are Christians who have the biggest view of God. Knowing that God is sovereign over all things, including the betrayal done to us, brings us peace because we know that all is done according to His sovereign will. We forfeit peace when we foolishly think that God is somehow not on His throne. Let us remember to “consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Rom. 8:18), and that “for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28).
One of the miracles God does when regenerating us is giving us a new heart. This does not mean that God strips us from all emotions and provides us with a heart that cannot be hurt. No; the new heart does process emotions, just differently. Instead of being directly affected by circumstances, we now filter our circumstances through God’s promises. He has promised to save us from our sins (1 John 4:10), to deliver us from this body (Rom. 7:24-25), to raise us up from the grave (1 Cor. 15:12-57), to make us holy, and to live with us forever (Rev. 21:3-4).
Therefore, we cannot be shaken (Psalm 55:22), for God is faithful to keep His promises and there is nothing that can hinder Him from doing so. God has not promised to disallow us to suffer and therefore we should not pray for such a thing. However, though we suffer, we can cry out to God to sustain us through it.
Works Cited
[1] “When I am in the cellar of affliction, I look for the Lord’s choicest wines.” – Samuel Rutherford, A Puritan Golden Treasury, (compiled by I.D.E. Thomas, by permission of Banner of Truth, Carlisle, PA. 2000), 17
[2] Thomas Watson, Gleanings, 63, (Ore From The Puritan’s Mine, Reformation Heritage Books, Grand Rapids, MI, 2020), 379
[3] William Gurnall, The Christian in Complete Armour, (Banner of Truth Trust, East Peoria, IL), 352