Sunday, November 8 · Independent Presbyterian Church
Opposition and Betrayal from Within
The sermon looks at how the Psalms expect opposition and betrayal to come not from outside the church but from inside it, and how David's own experience of a trusted friend turning against him points to Christ and to the confidence that God vindicates his people.
The passages
Listen to my prayer, God. Don’t hide yourself from my supplication. Attend to me, and answer me. I am restless in my complaint, and moan because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked. For they bring suffering on me. In anger they hold a grudge against me. My heart is severely pained within me. The terrors of death have fallen on me. Fearfulness and trembling have come on me. Horror has overwhelmed me. I said, “Oh that I had wings like a dove! Then I would fly away, and be at rest. Behold, then I would wander far off. I would lodge in the wilderness.” Selah. “I would hurry to a shelter from the stormy wind and storm.”
Psalms 55:1–8
For it was not an enemy who insulted me, then I could have endured it. Neither was it he who hated me who raised himself up against me, then I would have hidden myself from him. But it was you, a man like me, my companion, and my familiar friend. We took sweet fellowship together. We walked in God’s house with company.
Psalms 55:12–14
He raises his hands against his friends. He has violated his covenant. His mouth was smooth as butter, but his heart was war. His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.
Psalms 55:20–21
Yes, my own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, who ate bread with me, has lifted up his heel against me.
Psalms 41:9
As for me, I will call on God. Yahweh will save me. Evening, morning, and at noon, I will cry out in distress. He will hear my voice. He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me, although there are many who oppose me. God, who is enthroned forever, will hear and answer them. Selah.
Psalms 55:16–19
Cast your burden on Yahweh and he will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be moved. But you, God, will bring them down into the pit of destruction. Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days, but I will trust in you.
Psalms 55:22–23
Go deeper
Why does David say the betrayal of a familiar friend wounds him more than the taunts of an enemy?
David can brace for an enemy and even hide from one, but this came from a man who shared his counsel and walked with him to worship. The wound is not the attack itself but who delivered it.
For it was not an enemy who insulted me, then I could have endured it. Neither was it he who hated me who raised himself up against me, then I would have hidden myself from him. But it was you, a man like me, my companion, and my familiar friend. We took sweet fellowship together. We walked in God’s house with company.
Psalms 55:12–14
He raises his hands against his friends. He has violated his covenant. His mouth was smooth as butter, but his heart was war. His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.
Psalms 55:20–21
Yes, my own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, who ate bread with me, has lifted up his heel against me.
Psalms 41:9
Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. The conspiracy was strong, for the people increased continually with Absalom. A messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.” David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise! Let’s flee, or else none of us will escape from Absalom. Hurry to depart, lest he overtake us quickly and bring down evil on us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”
2 Samuel 15:12–14
What did David do with the burden of opposition instead of fleeing, and what did he expect God to do?
David longs for wings like a dove and then does not fly. He calls on God evening, morning and noon and casts the whole weight of the conspiracy onto him, trusting that God hears and will not let the righteous be moved. Absalom's revolt is the shape of that trust.
As for me, I will call on God. Yahweh will save me. Evening, morning, and at noon, I will cry out in distress. He will hear my voice. He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me, although there are many who oppose me. God, who is enthroned forever, will hear and answer them. Selah.
Psalms 55:16–19
Cast your burden on Yahweh and he will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be moved. But you, God, will bring them down into the pit of destruction. Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days, but I will trust in you.
Psalms 55:22–23
…casting all your worries on him, because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7
Someone told David, saying, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” David said, “Yahweh, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.”
2 Samuel 15:31
How does the betrayal of a close friend in Psalm 41 come to be applied to Judas at the table with Jesus?
The psalm speaks of a friend who shared bread and lifted his heel, and the sermon reads that line forward to Judas sitting at the last supper. David's suffering becomes a pattern for the son of David, and the sermon says the same pattern runs on into the church.
Yes, my own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, who ate bread with me, has lifted up his heel against me.
Psalms 41:9
I don’t speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with me has lifted up his heel against me.’ From now on, I tell you before it happens, that when it happens, you may believe that I am he. Most certainly I tell you, he who receives whomever I send, receives me; and he who receives me, receives him who sent me.” When Jesus had said this, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, “Most certainly I tell you that one of you will betray me.”
John 13:18–21
Jesus therefore answered, “It is he to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. After the piece of bread, then Satan entered into him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” Now nobody at the table knew why he said this to him. For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus said to him, “Buy what things we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. Therefore having received that morsel, he went out immediately. It was night.
John 13:26–30
As they were eating, he said, “Most certainly I tell you that one of you will betray me.” They were exceedingly sorrowful, and each began to ask him, “It isn’t me, is it, Lord?” He answered, “He who dipped his hand with me in the dish will betray me. The Son of Man goes even as it is written of him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for that man if he had not been born.” Judas, who betrayed him, answered, “It isn’t me, is it, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You said it.”
Matthew 26:21–25
For I know that after my departure, vicious wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Men will arise from among your own selves, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.
Acts 20:29–30