Psalm 55:12–13: “For it is not an enemy who reproaches me; / Then I could bear it. / Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me; / Then I could hide from him. / But it was you, a man my equal, / My companion and my acquaintance.”

March 1st, 2024 by Pastor Ed in devotional

David poured out his heart to his Lord because a close friend, Ahithophel, betrayed him. Ahithophel had been David’s close personal friend and counselor, but Ahithophel turned against him. If it had been a known enemy, then that would have been expected and David could have handled it. But when trouble came from this unexpected, close person, he was caught off guard and it broke his heart. David was thinking of running away from his problems or maybe just hiding his head in the sand until all these things passed by. We will be tempted to do the same, but running away never makes the problem any easier, nor does it ever truly solve a problem. The only lasting solution is to face our problems in the strength of the Lord.

We can learn a lesson from the tough sisal twine that comes from Yucatan, Mexico. The sisal plant is native to the hard, stony soil in that area. Some enterprising Americans visited the area and decided there might be good money to be made by growing the plant in richer soil, under better conditions. So they started a sisal plantation in Florida, where the plant no longer found life a struggle for survival and grew to enormous size. The business promised tremendous returns. But when reaping time came, the leaf that the vital fiber for the twine comes from simply collapsed into a soft pulp. The tough fiber quality was missing. They learned the hard way that the sisal plant acquired its toughness through its battle with the adverse circumstances of wind, heat, and barren soil. God often doesn’t bail His people out when they are hit with blasts of adversity. In His mercy and wisdom, He knows just what is necessary to help their spiritual character grow to become strong and resilient.

“LORD, please strengthen us this day.”

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Psalms 55 KJV

¹ Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.  

² Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;

³ Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.

⁴ My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.

⁵ Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me. 

⁶ And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.

⁷ Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah.

⁸ I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.

⁹ Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

¹⁰ Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.

¹¹ Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.

¹² For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:

¹³ But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. 

¹⁴ We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company. 

¹⁵ Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them. 

¹⁶ As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.

¹⁷ Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

¹⁸ He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.

¹⁹ God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God. 

²⁰ He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant. 

²¹ The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.

²² Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. 

²³ But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.