The Psalm today tells us that it’s not just your enemies who can harm you, it can be you friends. While the Psalms do take us on a roller coaster of utter, carefree bliss, down in the dumps defeat, and everything in between. But through it all, especially when things look bleak, we find encouragement from the first two verses.
1Give ear to my prayer, O God;
do not hide yourself from my supplication.
2Attend to me, and answer me;
I am troubled in my complaint.
Here’s that bit about the so-called “friend”
12It is not enemies who taunt me—
I could bear that;
it is not adversaries who deal insolently with me—
I could hide from them.
13But it is you, my equal,
my companion, my familiar friend,
14with whom I kept pleasant company;
we walked in the house of God with the throng.
What did the former bff (best friend forever) do?
20My companion laid hands on a friend
and violated a covenant with me
21with speech smoother than butter,
but with a heart set on war;
with words that were softer than oil,
but in fact were drawn swords.
What to do? What to do?
22Cast your burden on the Lord,
and he will sustain you;
he will never permit
the righteous to be moved.