Trust That the Lord Will Always Be Faithful

(Psalms 55:12-14) 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.

(Luke 22:47-48) While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus said to him, "Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?"

The psalmist recognizes that his counselor is a false friend. Someone that he trusted and who knew him well. Someone whom he had been close to and who knew his strengths and weaknesses. Someone in whom he had confided, shared intimate thoughts with, and whom he trusted. The Lord Jesus experienced betrayal at the hand of a close friend. Judas walked with Jesus, was taught by Jesus, and was intimately aware of Jesus' innermost thoughts. In each of these examples, the closeness of the friendship is what made the betrayal possible.

This type of deception comes in many forms. Certainly, as was the case with Judas, it comes in the form of out-and-out betrayal of a friend but it also comes in far more subtle forms. Sometimes when a friend is in the midst of a difficulty or pattern of sin, he may desire to pull you into it as a means of justification or to have company in his misery. Other times a friend may give bad counsel with good intentions; as when he tells you whatever it takes to comfort you even if what he tells you or the way he counsels you leads you away from where the Lord is directing you.

First and foremost, your truest and most loyal friend—and your most trusted counselor—is the Lord Jesus Himself but that does not mean you should not trust or be vulnerable to others. The key is to always weigh what others tell you against God's Word, and to go to those who will give you good and wise counsel, not those who will tell you what you want to hear.

Trust your friends and at the same time trust that the Lord will always be faithful even when those closest to you are not.

Questions For Discussion

Why would trusted close friends ever betray you, lead you astray, or give you bad counsel?

Is deception or betrayal from friends ever your own fault (or at least partially your own fault)?

What should you do in light of the possibility of being betrayed or deceived by someone you trust?