This Psalm is a lament to by David after being betrayed by someone close to him, possibly Absalom or Ahithophel. Absalom was David's son that rebelled against him and Ahithophel was his trusted advisor who betrayed him and joined Absalom's rebellion (2 Samuel 15-18). This Psalm consists of David's prayers for the Lord to deal with this person and also praises God for His many blessings.
To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. A Contemplation of David.
1 Give ear to my prayer, O God,
And do not hide Yourself from my supplication.
2 Attend to me, and hear me;
I am restless in my complaint, and moan noisily,
3 Because of the voice of the enemy,
Because of the oppression of the wicked;
For they bring down trouble upon me,
And in wrath they hate me.
This is David pouring his heart out to God. It's opening himself up and feeling vulnerable, saying, "God, here is what I'm feeling. I don't have this all figured out but here is how I see it." It's a call for God to hear because we are hurt or confused by what is going on. And we've all made a similar cry out to God only to feel as though God didn't hear it. Feeling hurt and betrayed by a friend is just compounded when we feel as though God didn't hear our cry to him. The betrayal cut deep and David is restless in his complaint. Did this person always have evil intent? Was there ever really a friendship or kinship or was it all a fake? Did they ever care about my feelings or have they always been just looking out for their own feelings? Without answers to these questions and more, how can we ever let this go and find peace again? How can we get over this and go on? David had all these same feelings and concerns but he also had the concerns of those he ruled over.
David asks God to incline His ear, to take notice. We know we can bring every prayer before the Lord and that we can cast our cares upon Him. David asked the Lord to hear because the enemy would 'bring down trouble upon me.' This is the picture of a stack of trouble being tipped over and landing on the victim.
What is the biblical way to deal with a situation of betrayal? What bible verses come to mind?
4 My heart is severely pained within me,
And the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
5 Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me,
And horror has overwhelmed me.
6 So I said, "Oh, that I had wings like a dove!
I would fly away and be at rest.
7 Indeed, I would wander far off,
And remain in the wilderness. Selah
8 I would hasten my escape
From the windy storm and tempest."
There is no greater pain than that which is caused by someone who has touched our heart. If that person is someone you love, the pain is relentless and physically oppressive. We feel like we are being squeezed and it's hard to breath. We feel heavy and lethargic, not wishing to even move. This is what David is describing. The pain is so overwhelming that he is looking for a way out. He wants to escape. If he had wings he would fly away. He would wander off.... Not even picking a direction. He would just fly ahead of the storm, never letting it catch him. Then, he would just find a quiet place in the wilderness to get out of this storm and tempest of life.
Where would you escape to and why? Where have you run off to in the past? Did you find that the problems were still with you?
9 Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues,
For I have seen violence and strife in the city.
10 Day and night they go around it on its walls;
Iniquity and trouble are also in the midst of it.
11 Destruction is in its midst;
Oppression and deceit do not depart from its streets.
At the
12 For it is not an enemy who reproaches me;
Then I could bear it.
Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me;
Then I could hide from him.
13 But it was you, a man my equal,
My companion and my acquaintance.
14 We took sweet counsel together,
And walked to the house of God in the throng.
If all this trouble came from an enemy, it would be easier to bear. After all, we expect our enemies to cause us trouble. But when violence, strife, iniquity, trouble, destruction, oppression and deceit come from someone you are close to it causes unbearable pain. When a companion and acquaintance stands up and exalts themselves against you, it causes us to sin in our response. The flesh rises up to preserve our pride. Is a right response to this to allow God to deal with the person? Is the pain involved or the response to it different if the person is a spiritual mentor, part of your church family, or someone with which you 'walked to the house of God?'
15 Let death seize them;
Let them go down alive into hell,
For wickedness is in their dwellings and among them.
Wow! Is this a right response? Or is this our self preservation and a human response? In Numbers 16:30 God opened the earth and it swallowed His enemies, in effect taking them alive to hell.
Are there any bible verses that support this kind of response?
16 As for me, I will call upon God,
And the LORD shall save me.
17 Evening and morning and at noon
I will pray, and cry aloud,
And He shall hear my voice.
18 He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me,
For there were many against me.
19 God will hear, and afflict them,
Even He who abides from of old. Selah
Because they do not change,
Therefore they do not fear God.
This person who betrayed David was wicked and David was calling for a judgment from God. Then, David said, as for him...... He was going to walk with God. He was going to trust God in these circumstances. All day, David would pray to God and know that his prayers would be heard. David had been delivered many times in the past. And once again, David would trust God because He had redeemed his soul in peace. There was a great battle against him but God redeemed him in peace. The battle is ultimately the Lords. Verse 19 speaks of the Old one, set in his ways and unwilling to chance. This is Old One is God and He will afflict them because they don't change. They don't fear God.
20 He has put forth his hands against those who were at peace with him;
He has broken his covenant.
21 The words of his mouth were smoother than butter,
But war was in his heart;
His words were softer than oil,
Yet they were drawn swords.
This betrayer rose up against those who were at peace with him. He broke covenants. His words were deceptive, appearing to be smooth and soft but in reality he was plotting war.
22 Cast your burden on the LORD,
And He shall sustain you;
He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.
This burden isn't necessarily a specific problem. It represents the circumstances of life. These burdens are the things that hinder us as we walk in faith, on the path that God has set before us. These are the things that test our resolve and commitment to the Lord. Every day, in our circumstances and burdens lays the question, "Do you trust Him?" As we walk the path marked out for us and cast our burdens to the Lord, He sustains us. He doesn't necessarily remove the hindrance or burden, but he gives us the resources to deal with it. This could come in the way of a supernatural contentment, strength, peace or understanding. It could also come in the way of encouragement and exhortation from Godly friends and church family. When the man of God casts his burden to God, the response from God will be provision or the means to go over, through or around the obstacle. The righteous won't be moved from the path God placed them on if they rely on Him.
23 But You, O God, shall bring them down to the pit of destruction;
Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days;
But I will trust in You.
Did God bring them to the pit of destruction? See Absalom's death in 2 Samuel 18:9-15; see Ahithophel in 2 Samuel 17:23. Many times it seems that bloodthirsty and deceitful men have too long a leash. It seems God allows them too much time to work their evil. It is up to God to determine their days and their fate. It is our job to maintain our own trust in God.
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