My Friends
Notes
Transcript
Intro; I was reading a new devotion that was sent to me the other day entitled “Good Morning God”, and I came across a devotion called “Friends” based on Psalm 55:13. I want to read this to you.
The predawn air had a distinct chill to it when the pickup truck horn sounded each morning that summer. Rob would wander out to the truck where Ben waited. Farmers hired Ben with his New Holland hay stacker to collect the baled hay from their fields and build large square haystacks for feeding the livestock during the winter.
The work itself was always the same, but the ease of doing it varied tremendously because of the type of hay. Alfalfa made tight, hard bales that were easy to handle. Wheat made looser bales that were apt to break apart and thus were much more work.
The first thing, Rob would ask, “Are we working wheat again today?” He always hoped for alfalfa, but without fail, it seemed, Ben would respond, “Yep, wheat it is.” Rob would then doze until they arrived at the fields. Once there, they enjoyed a cup of coffee and watched the sun rise into the still morning air before the long day of hard work. Neither said much during those times, nor was it necessary.
Ben retired and Rob has a family of his own. They rarely see one another now, but when they do, it doesn’t take long for the conversation to turn to that special summer. Each man recalls different lessons learned from their work together, but a common one is their shared belief that finding God’s will requires a commitment to serving Him no matter how hard—or easy—the work.
God’s presence is like that. It’s not what is said or not said that matters so much as it is the being together and the lessons we learn.
Text; Psalm 55:13
13 But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend,
Now that’s a good devotion that reminds me of the days of my youth when I hauled hay with my best friend Jay and his older brother Larry. Jay and I worked for a nickel a bale while Larry got a quarter because he had the truck and had to pay for the gas. It was hard work but we enjoyed it because we were family, and still are. We stay in touch and I don’t think any of us will forget those days.
But the context of this scripture is not how much we have in common with our friends, nor remembering the “good ole days”. It’s about the betrayal of our friends stabbing us in the back and how we respond to it.
This psalm of David is more than likely referring to the time his son Absalom led a rebellion against him and David was forced to leave Jerusalem to save his life. If it wasn’t hard enough to deal with the betrayal of a son, it got worse when there was the betrayal of a lifelong friend who was part of his counsel, Ahithophel.
30 So David went up by the Ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered and went barefoot. And all the people who were with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went up.
31 Then someone told David, saying, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O Lord, I pray, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”
“When Friends Betray You”
1. Cry Out To God; 1-5
1. Cry Out To God; 1-5
It hurts when people you have trusted and been friends with forever turn on you. Especially those that you worship with [v.14]
Instead of talking about them or trying to get even we need to call out to the Lord!
[vs. 1-2] Give ear to my prayer, don’t hide, attend to me!
What a privilege it is to pour out our hearts to the Lord, to tell Him whatever we are feeling.
David was restless, hurt, oppressed, troubled, angered and heart broken, because of what his “friends” were doing to him, their king. He was overwhelmed with horror of what might happen to the people of Jerusalem in his absence.
Have you ever been betrayed by a friend? Sure, we all have.
And it probably made you mad to the point where you wanted to get even, right?
That’s why we need to cry out to God and let Him know exactly what’s on our heart, so we won’t sin! [Entering the rest of the Lord]
11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.
12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
15 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.
16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
When our friends betray us, remember that God never will!
2. Endure; 6-8
2. Endure; 6-8
Have you ever just wanted to get away, change churches, get away from it all and start somewhere new? David did. He was thinking how wonderful it would be just to get away from all his responsibilities and those who were trying to hurt him [ministry has made me feel that way].
God has not called us to escape but to endure!
Prayer empowers us to face every trouble and trial of life so we can endure.
13 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
12 And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;
3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
10 Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.
36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:
So when life stinks and trials are heavy upon us, don’t ask to God “How I can get out of this?” But ask God, “What can I get out of this?”
Warren Wiersbe said, “We don’t need wings like a dove so we can fly away from the storm. We need wings like an eagle so we can soar above the storm (Isa. 40:30–31).”
3. Pursue Divine Justice; 9-15
3. Pursue Divine Justice; 9-15
When David was praying for justice towards those who were afflicting him, He prayed that God would administer Divine Justice.
[vs. 9-11] David prays for God to stop their tongues from spreading lies, slander, gossip and rumors amongst the people of Jerusalem. It’s causing violence and strife between those who were loyal to David and those who were loyal to Absalom.
[v.15] David is not seeking for them to die, but for God to bring justice swiftly, before they continue to disrupt the people and cause harm to the name of God. It would be God’s choice to of how to administer that justice.
28 And Moses said: “By this you shall know that the Lord has sent me to do all these works, for I have not done them of my own will.
29 If these men die naturally like all men, or if they are visited by the common fate of all men, then the Lord has not sent me.
30 But if the Lord creates a new thing, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the pit, then you will understand that these men have rejected the Lord.”
31 Now it came to pass, as he finished speaking all these words, that the ground split apart under them,
32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Korah, with all their goods.
33 So they and all those with them went down alive into the pit; the earth closed over them, and they perished from among the assembly.
19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
It is not for us to decide judgement on others for hurting us, that belongs to the Lord! We can pray for God to bring justice quickly, but it’s up to the Lord, when and how He does it.
4. Cast Our Cares On the Lord; 16-19, 22
4. Cast Our Cares On the Lord; 16-19, 22
David prays with assurance that God will keep the covenant He made with him, to save him, and that God will address his situation. I believe there are two specific reasons why David was confident in this;
God’s Promise; God is faithful to His Word
12 “When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.
16 And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.” ’ ”
David’s Submission; trusted God and cast his cares on Him
5 Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.
6 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday.
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
We need to cling to God’s promises and submit our hurts and burdens to Him and let Him take care of the rest.
Close;
David was deeply hurt because the one’s that he trusted were the one’s that betrayed him. The same thing happened to Jesus by Judas Iscariot and it will happen to us as well. But instead of trying to get revenge or quitting, we need to carry things to God, pray for the friends who hurt us and ask God to intervene in our lives, and keep our eyes on Jesus!
Friends and family will let us down and even attack us, but Jesus never will!
God Is In This Story/ Song by Big Daddy Weave & Katy Nichole ‧ 2023
God is in this story
God is in the details
Even in the broken parts
He holds my heart, He never fails
When I’m at my weakest
I will trust in Jesus
Always in the highs and lows
The One who goes before me
God is in this story
