When I was younger I was betrayed. I was rarely betrayed in friendships, but I was betrayed in love. I would sometimes wake in the night replaying discussions where I was lied to. I would think of the injustice, the betrayal, and the pain. It would throb in my chest and my head would ache just trying to comprehend it. Sometimes I was the betrayer. I forgave myself quite easily at the time. It was necessary, or I just enjoyed the thrill of deception too much. I was young and irresponsible, but I see more clearly now that I perpetuated a cycle of betrayal and revenge. In my own vendetta against the opposite sex, I was living out a twisted justice.
In Psalm 12, David rails against betrayal in some trusted relationship. It is comfort that David felt the betrayal many of us have felt. It is a cold reminder of the harm that we do when we betray others.
Psalm 12
For the director of music. According to sheminith.[b] A psalm of David.
1 Help, LORD, for no one is faithful anymore;
those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.
2 Everyone lies to their neighbor;
they flatter with their lips
but harbor deception in their hearts.
3 May the LORD silence all flattering lips
and every boastful tongue—
4 those who say,
“By our tongues we will prevail;
our own lips will defend us—who is lord over us?”
5 “Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan,
I will now arise,” says the LORD.
“I will protect them from those who malign them.”
6 And the words of the LORD are flawless,
like silver purified in a crucible,
like gold[c] refined seven times.
7 You, LORD, will keep the needy safe
and will protect us forever from the wicked,
8 who freely strut about
when what is vile is honored by the human race.
Questions
- What is David’s main complaint?
- How does David find comfort?
- Why would this be a song to be sung by a large group of people?
- How have you felt like David?
- What songs do you turn to in a time of betrayal?
Going Deeper
When Phil Collins was betrayed by his wife he made a song called “Do you know? Do you care?” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5-qRum7lgU&feature=related Listen to it and see how the emotion parallels that of David.
Read the lyrics below. What do they lack?
“Do You Know, Do You Care”
You said you would, you didn’t and I wanna know why
And don’t make no excuses
You promised, you promised, you better explain
Tho’ I don’t know what the use is
You said you could, you couldn’t, now why did you lie
You made it look so easy
You did it, why do it, what was your point?
Laughing while you tease me
Oh, do you know and do you care?
I said I did, I shouldn’t cos the magic will go
It happened once before
You’ll see it, you’ll steal it and take it away
And then come back for more
Don’t say you weren’t, you were ‘cos I saw you myself
It’s too late for your reason
You’re lying, you’re lying, you’ve done it this time
I’m sick of all the cheating
Oh, well do you know and do you care?
‘Cos I watch you
oo every day I watch you pass me by
I’ll get you
Yes in the end I’ll get you
Just watch me try
Oh you make it hard to be hard but I’m trying my best
Cos down inside I’m burnin’
You want it, you get it, now take it and run
I’ll hide how much it’s hurtin’
Oh, well do you know and do you care?
Oh, well do you know and do you care?
Plymothian 