Betrayed

Betrayal, not a word people like. Nobody likes being betrayed. I would like to look into the Word from a different perspective of betrayal.

We find David on the run from Saul in the 1st book of Samuel. He is brought word about a city in trouble. 

1 Samuel 23:1 KJV Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors.

Not only was Keilah in Israel it was in the lowlands of Judah. Judah being the tribe of Israel that David was from. So David prayed for guidance. 

1 Samuel 23:2 KJV Therefore David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the LORD said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.

So God instructs David to go save Keilah and he does just that. He and his men save the city of Keilah. Then David receives word that Saul is on his way to Keilah to capture him and his men. So David prays to God again. 

1 Samuel 23:12 KJV Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the LORD said, They will deliver thee up.

Can you imagine David’s thoughts when he heard this? He and his men came and saved this city and how are they repaid for their help? Betrayal! There’s a little problem though. God told David to save Keilah. God knew that Saul would come after David there. God knew that the city would betray David and his men. Yet, God told him to save them anyway. David and his men were the only ones that were going to save Keilah. Whether it was because they were close enough and in the right position to help. Or nobody else was concerned enough to help. 

There are some people that you are going to help that are going to betray you. It is important for you to know that you may be the one that has to help them out of their trouble. Nobody else may be able to. Maybe others aren’t in the position to help. Maybe they don’t know them or just can’t help. Maybe the people that should help them don’t care enough. Whatever it may be you may find yourself in the position to help someone that no one else can. And they very well may betray you. Yeah I know that stings the flesh. Again we don’t like being betrayed. 

You do know that Jesus knew that Judas was going to betray Him. He knew when He called him to be a disciple that he was going to betray Him. How does Jesus respond when Judas enters the garden with the mob? Jesus calls him friend.

Additionally Jesus came to save all of us and humanity betrayed Him. The very ones that He came to save. What did Jesus say about this? Jesus said: Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34 KJV). He prayed for their forgiveness as they were betraying Him. 

The thing about both of these betrayals is that they were in God’s will. Somebody had to betray Jesus to the crowds. Humanity had to betray Him and crucify Him. 

Jesus is the only one that could save us.

I tell you these things so when someone betrays you that you don’t think that you messed up helping them. I don’t want you to think that you were out of God’s will helping them. You may have done exactly what you were supposed to do. And when you get betrayed don’t go on social media blasting them. Don’t run them down every chance you get. This will not give you peace. No, pray for them, this will give you peace.

Matthew 5:44-45 KJV 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.