“As for me, I will call upon God, and the LORD shall save me . . . Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you” (Psalm 55:16, 22).
David had cried out to God in extreme agony of soul: “My heart is severely pained within me, and the terrors of death have fallen upon me. Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, and horror has overwhelmed me” (Psalm 55:4-5). One of his closest friends, whom he called “my companion and my acquaintance,” with whom he had taken “sweet counsel,” had betrayed him, and now he was in danger from enemies who sought his life.
Betrayal by a friend must rank high on the scale of stressors. But we can be let down and very disappointed by our most intimate companions, even those who mean well, because no one can really meet our needs for companionship.
Like all the Psalms, this one is messianic, pointing to Jesus, who was betrayed by Judas, denied by Peter, deserted by all his disciples, and left alone in the hands of hostile foes, with no one to help him. The same thing happened to Paul (see 2 Timothy 4:9-11, 14-16).
What can we do when all human help is absent? “Call upon the LORD” and “cast [our] burden on the LORD,” who will save us and sustain us.
“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7).
Yours in his mighty care,
Wright