A conspiracy under the leadership of a friend is one of the hardest burdens we could ever bear. The uncertainty and false reports catch us completely unaware when slander comes to our ears. A lack of trust arises, and we find it hard to accept what has been said, let alone deal with it. It was in that desperate situation that David found himself when Ahithophel betrayed him. He had been deserted by people who had been close to him. He crossed the brook Kidron and went up the Mount of Olives, where he worshipped God. Our Lord Jesus Christ went the same way when Judas betrayed him. In the coming day, the antichrist will betray the nation of Israel, who will trust him. They, too, will have to flee the actions of the coming betrayer who will pretend to be their friend, make a covenant with them, and then break it.
This psalm begins with the complaint of David, who experienced violence in the rebellion of Absalom. When Ahithophel, a close counselor and friend, betrayed him, he had reason to complain. There was turmoil in the nation as well as in his own soul. The “terrors of death” were on him because he did not know how close to death he was. Fear of death is not only on the part of unbelievers. Believers in Christ may also suffer that fear when pain and the actual experience of death tend to focus our minds on the event rather than the blessing that comes after death. The desire to escape death is in almost everyone up to a certain point, especially when one is still in good health and strength.
The second part of this psalm is a denunciation of the wicked. He wanted God to divide and destroy those who opposed him. When a friend becomes an enemy, we are devastated. Emotional language against an enemy is not uncommon when betrayal actually happens, and we did not expect it. Not everyone who claims to be with you and for you is. “Sweet counsel together” is not always lasting. Much as we want to run away and escape, we cannot do that. The wounds of a friend can be faithful wounds when they are for our correction, but when they are wounds of betrayal, they cause great anguish in our hearts. David wanted his betrayers to go to hell. Our Lord instructed us to pray for those who “despitefully use you.” Internal enemies and corruption from a family, assembly, or nation are more dangerous than opposition from without.
Confidence in prayer is our only recourse when we are under pressure and disappointment. Praying is the best thing we can do, and really, it should be the only thing because, in urgent prayer, we are expecting divine intervention. Prayer without ceasing is our best defense. Smooth, flattering words said to us are a good reason to be cautious. We must let the Lord deal with our enemies and the “pretend friends.”
The wicked betrayer may have a false sense of security, but they do not have the fear of God before them, so they continue what they have been doing. The Antichrist will be the epitome of deception, and to him, a broken covenant is not the serious matter that it is to our Lord. To break a covenant with God and/or His people is an open sin against God. God knows how to deal with malice and abuse. He can discern threats and lies. Insults and plots – even those of friends and companions with whom we have had a sweet fellowship in the house of God- are in His area of responsibility. If we try to deal with such things, we will not likely avoid bitterness and a desire for revenge that is hard to describe.
To “cast thy burden upon the Lord” takes an act of our own will. It is a deliberate act of faith, knowing that our Lord can do what we cannot. The promises of God sustain and deal with the burden. We put our unreserved trust in Him, who has all power and all control. If we do not choose to do that, we will be restless and distracted with all our attention on what is wrong with others. That leaves us exposed, oppressed, and maybe even heartbroken because we are looking at the wrong person and place. Suppose we allow ourselves to look only at the betrayer and betrayal. In that case, we may become terrified, afflicted in our mind, and stricken to the point of being useless, angry, full of condemnation and indignation. When we finally come to the place of real trust by faith in our Lord, we can rest assured and confident in the strength of God that sustains us and takes care of the burden.