Betrayal. Betrayal is a not a word we like. Perhaps for you it conjures up bad memories. Maybe you’ve been betrayed by your spouse, your children, or a close friend. Perhaps you were betrayed by a pastor or someone in the church. Because we live in a sin-sick world, we all will face betrayal at some time or another in our life. Today’s sermon/blog post is about how we can face betrayal as believers in Christ.
The historical context for Psalm 3 is found mainly in 2 Sam 15 where David is fleeing from his son, Absalom. The full narrative of David and Absalom is found in 2 Sam 13-19. The following is a summary of 2 Sam 13-14.
- David had multiple wives and concubines.
- Amnon, David’s firstborn son, raped his half-sister, Tamar.
- David, along with Absalom (Tamar’s brother), was furious. The biblical record does not indicate that David ever took any action against Amnon.
- After two full years, Absalom kills his half-brother Amnon to avenge Tamar and then fled from Jerusalem.
- David never corrected Absalom for this or held his son accountable for his actions.
- Absalom stayed away for three years and then is brought back to Jerusalem. However, he was not allowed to live in the king’s palace or see the king for two years.
- After two years, Absalom and his father, David, the king, were reunited.
More context: 2 Sam 15:1-14
Absalom, perhaps out of ambition as well as resentment towards his father David begins to build relationships with the men of Israel. He does this by going to the city gate and listening to those who needed to speak with the king. He told these travelers that the king was too busy but that if he was in charge he would uphold justice. By doing this, the text says that he “stole the hearts of the men of Israel” (2 Sam 15:6).
After some time, Absalom stages a coup. He convinces people to follow him. He betrays his father David. David and his trusted friends and advisors had to leave the city.
So that’s what’s going on in Psalm 3. David is already out of the city and Absalom’s armies are closing in.
Sermon Text: Psalm 3
In Psalm 3, we see how David responded to betrayal and how we can look to God when we face betrayal.
When facing betrayal, many people lack faith in God’s power to save (1-2)
1 Lord, how many are my foes!
How many rise up against me!
2 Many are saying of me,
“God will not deliver him.”
One of the first things we see in this text is that even though David was God’s anointed king he was not free from the pain of attacks, even from within his own family. Today’s TV preachers proclaim that if you have enough faith that God will make and keep you happy, healthy, and wealthy. David was a man after God’s own heart and yet he faced a painful betrayal by his own son.
When betrayal comes, many people say “God’s not going to do anything. You have to take matters in your own hands.” We see this in verse two.
When you’re facing betrayal, it is okay to acknowledge that you don’t have the strength to deal with your problems. When David was leaving Jerusalem, he said, “I know not where [I am going]” (2 Sam 15:20). David didn’t know where he was going but he knew he had to leave or he would be killed.
It’s also normal to weep concerning evil and betrayal (2 Sam 15:30). David and those with him wept as they left Jerusalem. Betrayal brings confusion and sadness. This is a normal response. It is during these times that we need godly friends to help us.
Like David, we need friends who will pray for and support us. David had friends like this. Ittai was willing to face death with David (2 Sam 15:21). Hushai, Zadok, and Abiathar were friends of David that would communicate Absalom’s plans to David and his military advisors (2 Sam 15:32-37). Ziba brought supplies to David and his men (2 Sam 16:1-4). Truly, we need friends that will be with us during times of adversity (Prov 17:17).
We need friends that will be with us during times of adversity (Prov 17:17).
We also need friends that will speak truth to us (2 Sam 18:1-5). David was ready to go to battle but his military advisors told him to stay away from the battle. David evidently trusted these men because he told them, “Whatever seems best to you I will do” (v. 4). Have people that will tell you the truth and receive their words with humility. David was willing to listen and it probably saved his life.
This is why the church is so important. On Sunday mornings, your pastor will preach the truth of God’s Word. In Sunday school, you discuss God’s Word with other believers who will pray for you. Your relationships with mature believers in Christ will help you in times of adversity (Prov 17:17).
Do you have close relationships with strong Christians who will pray for you and speak the truth to you? I hope you do!
When facing betrayal, place your confidence in God and his strength (3-6)
3 But you, Lord, are a shield around me,
my glory, the One who lifts my head high.
4 I call out to the Lord,
and he answers me from his holy mountain.
5 I lie down and sleep;
I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.
6 I will not fear though tens of thousands
assail me on every side.
David was concerned for his life (2 Sam 15:14).
David, as he was heading into the wilderness outside of Jerusalem, said these words:
“Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me back and let me see both it and his dwelling place. But if he says, ‘I have no pleasure in you,’ behold, here I am, let him do to me what seems good to him.” (2 Sam 15:25-26)
David trusted in God’s sovereignty. He knew that if he had God’s favor then he would eventually return to the king’s palace in Jerusalem. In the meantime, David placed his confidence in God by meditating on the goodness of God. When you face a betrayal, remember these truths.
First, God is your shield (v. 3). As you look to God as your shield, you will be able to withstand the attacks of your enemies. We should look to God, who is the lifter of our heads.
Second, God answers prayer (v. 4). When we cry out to God, we are acknowledging that we need his help. We can be confident that he cares for us, and that he will answer us. A simple prayer is to pray Prov 3:5-6: “God, help me to trust you with all my heart and to not lean on my own understanding. I acknowledge your goodness in all things and trust you to make my path straight again in your time.”
Third, God sustains us (v. 5). Once we give our burden to the Lord, we can lay down and sleep peacefully, knowing that the Lord will hear us and sustain us through the troubles of life. David’s didn’t focus on his circumstances even though he was surrounded by enemies. Similarly, we should focus not on our circumstances, but instead meditate on our confidence in God’s protection.
David had learned this lesson in his youth. When he fought Goliath, he knew that he was just a kid with a slingshot. Israel’s army was looking at the size of the giant rather than placing their faith in God as David did.
Because God is our shield, because God answers prayer, and because God sustains us, we should not fear (v. 6).
Because God is our shield, because God answers prayer, and because God sustains us, we should not fear.
When facing betrayal, trust in God for salvation from your enemies (7-8)
7 Arise, Lord!
Deliver me, my God!
Strike all my enemies on the jaw;
break the teeth of the wicked.
8 From the Lord comes deliverance.
May your blessing be on your people.
David not only trusted in God to protect him, but he trusted that God would fight for him (v. 7). In 2 Sam 17:14, it says this:
And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel.” For the Lord had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the Lord might bring harm upon Absalom.
Ahithophel had given his counsel to Absalom that probably would’ve worked wonderfully had God not thwarted his plans. Even before Absalom’s coup, God had ordained that David would be restored to the throne. Trust in the Lord. He knows about your battles before they even begin!
Conclusion
How do you fight your battles? Rather than seeking vengeance on your enemy, ask God to fight your battles for you as you trust him to establish justice.
David fought his battle in the strength of the Lord, with the help of trusted friends, while trusting in God’s sovereignty.
The entire time, David wanted to be reconciled with Absalom. David was Absalom’s enemy, but Absalom was not David’s enemy. As you trust in God for deliverance, are seek reconciliation with those who have hurt you. David even pardoned the men of Israel that had followed Absalom and betrayed him (2 Sam 19:16-43).
David was able to proclaim v. 8, that the Lord brings deliverance. When facing betrayal, trust in God for salvation. Put your confidence in him and look to him rather than being crippled by your circumstances.
When David left Jerusalem, he went up to the Mount of Olives weeping (2 Sam 15:30). About a thousand years later, a man went to the Mount of Olives. He wept, knowing that he would be betrayed by one of his closest friends. That man was Jesus. He willingly went to the cross to die for our sins.
The next time you are betrayed, remember that God will fight for you. He can bring evil out of good. He’s already done it through his perfect Son.