David was being hunted. Forget that dumb ‘no fear’ mantra, David was terrified.
“Fear and trembling grip me; horror has overwhelmed me” (Ps 55:5).
David only wished he was like a bird who could fly away and find rest from all the evil and wickedness that surrounded him (Ps 55:6-8). He wanted nothing more to run to a shelter and escape the tempest of evil swirling around him. Oh how we can relate.
But that wasn’t the worst part. The worst is that he had an enemy that was deceiving him. One who spoke ‘whose words were buttery smooth’ (Ps 55:21) but in secret they were drawn swords. And the identify of that man was…
a close friend.
Now it is not an enemy who insults me—
otherwise I could bear it;
it is not a foe who rises up against me—
otherwise I could hide from him.
But it is you, a man who is my peer,
my companion and good friend!
We used to have close fellowship;
we walked with the crowd into the house of God.
– Ps 55:12-14
If it was an enemy who rose up against him, it was bearable. But a friend? A close friend?
“he violates his covenant”
-Ps 55:20
There’s an unspoken covenant among close friends, that you will have each other’s back. And there are few things more painful than a friend betraying you. It’s a desecration of the sacred.
Cast your burden on the Lord,
and He will sustain you;
He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.
– Ps 55:22
I will trust in You.
– Ps 55:23
When all else falls and everyone turns away, still there is God. Still He is there worthy of trust and will sustain the righteous. They will not be shaken.
