Have you ever been betrayed? Do you know what it’s like to have your close friends or even family members turn on you? David certainly did. King Saul was his father-in-law, and yet Saul spent years trying to kill David. Absalom was his son, but Absalom led a rebellion against David. Oh yes, David had enemies who spoke evil of him (verse 5), who lied about him (verse 6), and who plotted against him (verse 7).

So, how did David respond to these kinds of attacks? Well, it’s only natural that he wanted to repay his enemies (verse 10), but he doesn’t seem to have wanted to do this by fighting fire with fire, employing the same sort of dirty tricks they were using against him. Instead, he asked God to uphold him in a life of integrity (verse 12), and to heal him of whatever sin might still be remaining in his life (verse 4). In short, David relied on God’s grace to help him live in such a way that his enemies’ slanderous lies wouldn’t have any traction – and surely we would do well to follow his example.

But it’s just as important to live in active obedience to God as it is to avoid flagrant disobedience. In fact, David opens this psalm with the reminder that a great way to plug into God’s blessings is to be a blessing to others, especially those who are poor and helpless (verse 1). It is those who live lives of such self-sacrificial love who can count on God’s deliverance and protection (verse 2).

And in fact, the greatest blessing of all came through the same sort of betrayal David experienced. For during the Last Supper, on of Jesus’ closest friends rose from the table so that he could lead a hostile mob into the Garden of Gethsemane (verse 9). But as Jesus’ enemies slandered Him and plotted against Him and crucified Him, they were carrying out God’s perfect plan of redemption for sinners. In fact they were fulfilling the Old Testament Scriptures, one of which David prophesied in this very psalm.

So, what if we were to respond to those who betray us the way David did – and the way Jesus did? What if we decide to keep on obeying God and keep on trying to bless even those who have hurt us the most deeply? Come to think of it, is there really any other way to follow Jesus, to show His unconditional love and grace to the world?

Psalm 41 (NASB)

For the choir director. A Psalm of David.
How blessed is he who considers the helpless; The LORD will deliver him in a day of trouble.
2 The LORD will protect him, and keep him alive, And he shall be called blessed upon the earth; And do not give him over to the desire of his enemies.
3 The LORD will sustain him upon his sickbed; In his illness, Thou dost restore him to health.
4 As for me, I said, “O LORD, be gracious to me; Heal my soul, for I have sinned against Thee.”
5 My enemies speak evil against me, “When will he die, and his name perish?”
6 And when he comes to see me, he speaks falsehood; His heart gathers wickedness to itself; When he goes outside, he tells it.
7 All who hate me whisper together against me; Against me they devise my hurt, saying,
8 “A wicked thing is poured out upon him, That when he lies down, he will not rise up again.”
9 Even my close friend, in whom I trusted, Who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me.
10 But Thou, O LORD, be gracious to me, and raise me up, That I may repay them.
11 By this I know that Thou art pleased with me, Because my enemy does not shout in triumph over me.
12 As for me, Thou dost uphold me in my integrity, And Thou dost set me in Thy presence forever.
13 Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, From everlasting to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.