Daily Devotions
Psalms
Psalm 55:13a "But it was you, a man my equal..."
Day 160 – Psalm 55
“But it was you, a man my equal…” Psalm 55:13a
A FRIEND AMONG THE ENEMIES
David’s distress was made worse upon discovery of a friend who had now defected and switched sides. There are few things that can match the sorrow and pain of such treachery.
“For it was 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.
We took sweet counsel together,
And walked to the house of God in the throng.”
Psalm 55:12-14
1. Action of enemies anticipated
a) They would reproach.
b) They would exalt themselves.
2. Response to known enemies
a) Expectation of opposition
b) Bearing up
c) Hiding (at least temporarily)
3. Unexpected treachery from a friend
a) David’s description of his friend reveals both shock and pain.
b) This was a close friend of David.
i) A man regarded as “an equal”.
ii) A trusted “companion and acquaintance”.
iii) There had been great friendship in the past (“sweet counsel”).
iv) They even shared special times of worshiping God together.
These thoughts brought pain and sorrow to David’s heart, and made his distress much harder to bear.