In a world of oppression, grudges, violence, strife, fraud, lies, and betrayal by friends, where do we turn for relief? Let’s look at Psalm 55.
How do we handle life when oppressed by wicked people? Do we pray?
Give ear to my prayer, O God, and hide not yourself from my plea for mercy! Attend to me, and answer me; I am restless in my complaint and I moan, because of the noise of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked. For they drop trouble upon me, and in anger they bear a grudge against me. (Ps 55:1-3 ESV)
What is our natural reaction when we are oppressed by the wicked? Is it to flee in fear?
My heart shudders within me; terrors of death sweep over me. Fear and trembling grip me; horror has overwhelmed me. I said, “If only I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and find rest. How far away I would flee; I would stay in the wilderness. Selah (Ps 55:4-7 HCSB)
When oppressed do we seek immediate escape? Do violence, fraud and lies happen in our cities?
I want to deliver myself quickly from this windstorm and tempest.” Confound them, Lord, and confuse their speech, because I have seen violence and strife in the city. Day and night they prowl around its walls; evil and iniquity are within it. Wickedness is at the center of it; fraud and lies never leave its streets. (Ps 55:8-11 ISV)
Do even friends betray friends in our world? Can we trust our guides and acquaintances?
For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. (Ps 55:12-13 KJV)
What will happen to those who once walked with us into the house of God, yet betrayed us without repentance? Should we wish that upon them or not?
We who had sweet counsel together Walked in the house of God in the throng. Let death come deceitfully upon them; Let them go down alive to Sheol, For evil is in their dwelling, in their midst. (Ps 55:14-15 LSB)
Should we act like those who betrayed us, or be spurred to even greater devotion, placing our complaints and moaning before God?
As for me, I shall call upon God, And the Lord will save me. Evening and morning and at noon, I will complain and moan, And He will hear my voice. He will redeem my soul in peace from the battle which is against me, For they are many who are aggressive toward me. God will hear and humiliate them—Even the one who sits enthroned from ancient times— Selah (Ps 55:16-19a NASB)
How does God deal with those who betrayed us using smooth talk and deceptively soothing words?
he will hear them and humble them, because they have no fear of God. My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant. His talk is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords. (Ps 55:19b-21 NIV)
In a world where sadly such betrayal is all too common, who do we turn to?
Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved. 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. (Ps 55:22-23 NKJV)
Did even Jesus understand betrayal by a close friend, Judas?
But even as Jesus said this, a crowd approached, led by Judas, one of the twelve disciples. Judas walked over to Jesus to greet him with a kiss. But Jesus said, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” (Luke 22:47-48 NLT)
In a world of oppression, grudges, violence, strife, fraud, lies, and betrayal by friends, where do we turn for relief? You decide!
