A Prayer for the Betrayed: Psalm 55-Supplication through the Scriptures
A Prayer for the Betrayed
Psalm 55
We amid all our sorrow may find rest in Jesus.
Charles Spurgeon
Betrayal is painful. The very nature of the word intimates that there is a relationship established that has been broken. A citizen betraying his country, a spouse betraying spouse, friend betraying friend, or child betraying parent. Trust has been broken. A deliberate act of disloyalty has violated that trust. What should be a relationship of security is now threatened by the untrustworthiness of the betrayer.
David, in Psalm 55, cries to the Lord in anguish. He is restless, complaining, moaning. He wishes to fly away from the situation, to wander far into the wilderness to feel sheltered from the intensity of his sorrow. His prayers rise continuously to the Lord—“evening and morning and at noon” (55:17). And the cause of his anguish is his companion, his familiar friend, one who used to take sweet counsel together with him has dealt insolently with him and taunts him. But even in this deep hurt, David counsels his soul, “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved” (55:22). And so he is able to say to the Lord, “I will trust in You” (55:23).
Dear betrayed one, God hears your cries, your moanings, the very anguish of your heart. He sees the restlessness and the distress. He will redeem your soul in peace from this battle you are waging. Cast all your burdens on Him today. He is able and willing to carry them for you. He will sustain you through this affliction, supply all you need, and provide for you. Our Savior knows intimately the sorrow of betrayal. “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:15-16 NKJV).
Plea for Mercy
55:1-3 Give ear to my prayer, O God, and hide not yourself from my plea for mercy! Attend to me, and answer me; I am restless in my complaint and I moan, because of the noise of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked. For they drop trouble upon me, and in anger they bear a grudge against me.
Let’s pray for the one betrayed:
▫️The Lord would give ear to their prayers and their pleas for mercy during this deep distress. The Lord would respond to their urgent cries for help: help in their anguish, help to have wisdom, help for forgiveness of the betrayer, help to make it through the day, help in the battle with their thoughts.
▫️The Lord would answer them with His kindness, comfort, nearness, and faithful love in their restlessness, complaints, and moaning.
▫️They would come to God with their complaints and with their hurts and find Him to be acquainted with their grief, compassionate in their sorrow, and able to bear their deep wounds.
Anguished Heart
55:4-8 My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen upon me. Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me. And I say, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest; yes, I would wander far away; I would lodge in the wilderness; Selah I would hurry to find a shelter from the raging wind and tempest.”
Let’s pray:
▫️The Lord would uphold them and keep them even as they long to escape their situation (Psalm 54:4). Escape the sorrow, escape the difficult decisions, escape the hard work of reconciliation, and perhaps escape this world.
▫️As fear and trembling come upon them, the Lord would strengthen their hearts and give them courage to face the future, and they would be able to give all their anxieties to Him (Philippians 4:6).
▫️As they may feel like their lives are a “raging wind and tempest,” the Lord would be their shelter and stronghold in the days of trouble and distress (Psalm 59:16).
Iniquity and Trouble
55:9-11 Destroy, O Lord, divide their tongues; for I see violence and strife in the city. Day and night they go around it on its walls, and iniquity and trouble are within it; ruin is in its midst; oppression and fraud do not depart from its marketplace.
Let’s pray:
▫️The Lord would destroy any more evil intentions or betrayal that the betrayer is planning.
▫️The betrayer would be sorry and repent of the violence and strife they have committed against their loved one.
▫️The Lord would stand up for His people and be a shield around them, protecting them from iniquity, trouble, ruin, oppression, or any other evil that could result from the betrayer’s actions.
My Familiar Friend!
55:12-15 For it is not an enemy who taunts me— then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me— then I could hide from him. But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. We used to take sweet counsel together; within God’s house we walked in the throng. Let death steal over them; let them go down to Sheol alive; for evil is in their dwelling place and in their heart.
Let’s pray:
▫️The Lord would be near to the broken-hearted and save the one crushed in spirit from the betrayal of their companion, their dear friend, the one they had sweet counsel with (Psalm 34:18).
▫️The Lord would heal these deep wounds of betrayal and the one betrayed would be able to trust others, be able to walk with confidence because of who they are in Christ, be free from intense self-doubt, and be dependent on the Lord for all they need.
▫️The Lord would bring vindication, and justice and righteousness would prevail.
He Hears My Voice
55:16-21 But I call to God, and the Lord will save me. Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice. He redeems my soul in safety from the battle that I wage, for many are arrayed against me. God will give ear and humble them, he who is enthroned from of old, Selah because they do not change and do not fear God. My companion stretched out his hand against his friends; he violated his covenant. His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.
Let’s pray:
▫️The one betrayed, even in their distress and despair, would call to God and the Lord would save them. He would rescue and deliver them from, in, and through the difficulties that have resulted from the betrayal.
▫️As they have been brought a deeply difficult providence, their hearts would learn to pray continuously, morning, noon, and night.
▫️They would give their complaints to God, and even if all they can do is moan, the Holy Spirit will intercede on their behalf and their moaning will be understood in heaven.
▫️The Lord would redeem them and bring redemption to the whole situation. The betrayer would humble themselves before the Lord, repent and turn to Him. The betrayed would give forgiveness and find God’s mercy and grace sufficient for this trial. There would be reconciliation, and peace would reign.
▫️The Lord would rescue and redeem the one betrayed from this battle that they wage. We do not wrestle against flesh and blood. The battle within and without would be waged by the power of the Lord and the strength of His might.
He Will Sustain You
55:22-23 Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. But you, O God, will cast them down into the pit of destruction; men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in you.”
Let’s pray:
▫️They would cast all their burdens on the Lord. The burdens of despair, rejection, hurt, anger, bitterness, resentment, hopelessness, trouble, complicated circumstances, the consequences flowing from the betrayal, fears, anxieties, doubts in God, every burden would be cast on the Lord, and He would sustain, uphold, and provide.
▫️They would be able to stand firm because they are firm in the Lord, His character, and His Word. The Lord would never permit His righteous ones to be moved.
▫️Through this time, they would be able to say, “But I will trust You.”
May the Lord do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think for His glory and our good. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Our blessed Lord had to endure at its worst the deceit and faithlessness of a favoured disciple; let us not marvel when we are called to tread the road which is marked by his pierced feet.
C.H. Spurgeon
Photo credit to aaronburden
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