9 Confuse the wicked, O Lord; confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city. 10 Day and night they prowl about on its walls; malice and abuse are within it. 11 Destructive forces are at work in the city; threats and lies never leave its streets. 12 If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were raising himself against me, I could hide from him. 13 But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, 14 with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship as we walked with the throng at the house of God. 15 Let death take my enemies by surprise; let them go down alive to the grave, for evil finds lodging among them.

None of us likes to have someone turn against us. When we realize that someone is trying to do us harm (whether it is physical, mental, social or whatever) we are hit with a realization that sinks in and hurts deeply. What is even more distressing is when we have this happen by someone who is (or was) supposed to be our friend and close companion. As the Psalmist says, someone with whom we used to go to church. Yet, we are betrayed!

There is something about this trust we had in someone being broken that is difficult to accept. At first we may deny that it is happening. When it sinks in and it is real, we begin to wonder what we may have done to cause it or if we are guilty of something – we doubt ourselves. The closer we were with the former companion, the deeper the hurt in being betrayed.

Jesus was betrayed by his closest companions. How did he handle it? What did he do about it? First, Jesus knew that people are fickle and that they cannot be totally trusted. No matter how good our intentions are, each of us will fail in our attempt to be totally loyal. If we sin against God (and we all do), we surely have failed each other – and will again.

Secondly, Jesus was forgiving and prayed for those who betrayed him. He prayed that they would be strong and not do wrong toward him or anyone else – especially against God. He was kind, compassionate and forgiving, even before they repented and asked for it.

Most of all, he kept entrusting himself to the one who judges righteously because he knew that God is the only one who will never fail us.

O God, help me to trust others. Help me to realize that they may fail me, just as I fail others at times. When they do fail me, give me a compassionate and forgiving heart toward them rather than a spirit of vengeance. Fill me with your Spirit so that I can love those who are not loving – even as you loved me. Most of all help me to trust you in all things. Help me to know the assurance that only you can give. I pray in the name of Jesus.

May God bless each of us as we trust him and live in him.