The superscription to this Psalm tells us the context in which ancient Israel believed the song was composed. David “wrote this when Doeg from Edom went to Saul and said, ‘David has gone to Ahimelech’s house.’”
We can read that terrible story in 1 Samuel 21-22.
Read More trust, disappointment, betrayal
As a young boy I was often bullied at school. Interestingly enough it was never by one person alone but always by a group. It seems that children aren’t that brave when they’re alone but put them with a few other bullies and they get quite courageous.
Jesus wasn’t a hard person to find. He walked around town quite openly. He didn’t have bodyguards.
Read More betrayal, love, bulliesJesus had no social media during his thirty-three years of life on earth. No sitting at Moonbuck’s (the other guy’s close competitor), texting his Father back home, hot cuppa’ in hand, waiting for the ping of incoming texts. No checking his Facebook account for comments or friend requests. No one to click like. No chance (even had he wanted one) to become an affirmation junkie like most of us.
But even without social media, Jesus had followers by the thousands.
Read More friends, betrayal, love, failureAt the cusp of spring, our family descended on the deck, the air still cooled by large patches of snow from winter past. When the blaze in our fire bowl beckoned, we sat round, young and older, chatting and reminiscing. Grateful for the warmth.
Maybe it was more than the obvious draw of heat to thaw a chilled body; but perhaps, like my family, it was only that which Peter grasped at first.
Read More betrayal, restoration, denialBetrayal. From the time Cain lured Abel into the fields, only to turn on his brother in a jealous rage, (Genesis 4:1-16) betrayal at the hands of a loved one has been a recurrent theme through the ages. It was no different for King David. While there is no exact date attached to this psalm, it could very well have been David’s troubled cry when Absalom, a favourite son, attempted to overthrow his father’s kingdom, along with one of David’s once-trusted advisors (2 Samuel 15-17).
Read More trust, betrayal, friendshipIt’s hard when people are against you, especially those you count as friends. It’s harder still to think about doing good to others when you’re down, even sick. But God protects and blesses those who do this and in the end restores them (vv 1-3).
It may be you are feeling that there is not much hope. That you don’t deserve God’s blessing never mind his healing or relief from those who are coming against you.
Read More betrayal, dépression, sickness, psalms
Have you ever seen someone try to put spilled milk back into a glass? It’s a messy and largely unproductive task.
Something like that happens after a political disruption, especially when there’s a rebellion where blood is spilt. Even if the ruling party “wins,” things don’t just go back to the way they were. The new order will inevitably be different from what was status quo before.
Read More betrayal, humility, leadership, broken relationshipsUnaware that this is Jesus’s last meal, the disciples celebrate Passover with him. In the privacy of the upper room, they listen eagerly as Jesus teaches the way to live. But, they are somber tonight. Jesus has frightened them lately with dark words of the end looming. Jesus is in danger from the crowds who have turned on him.
Read More evil, betrayal, repentance, forgiveness, JudasThe prophet Hosea lived in a time of political turmoil, an era when the people of his nation were more concerned to serve the gods of power and material wealth than to walk in the ways of the God of Israel. They were, in a word, unfaithful.
Hosea is the unfortunate prophet called to deliver the unwelcome message that Israel’s unfaithfulness was a great grief to God.
Read More betrayal, love, restoration, unfaithfulness
Betrayal. From the time Cain lured Abel into the fields, only to turn on his brother in a jealous rage, (Genesis 4:1-16) betrayal at the hands of a loved one has been a recurrent theme through the ages. It was no different for King David. While there is no exact date attached to this psalm …
Read More trust, betrayal, friendship