Write your own paraphrase of Psalm 119:92.
"If I hadn't had Your Word to cling to, my troubles would've been the death of me."
Read Psalm 55:1-11. How would you describe David's frame of mind at this point in his life?
"Beleaguered; overwhelmed by feelings of fear and of castigation by everyone around him"
Without looking any farther in Psalm 55, list three or four circumstances that could cause this frame of mind.
"Being on the run from Saul
"Being on the run from Absalom
"Being tormented by his own internal demons over his sin with Bathsheba"
What was causing David such pain? "the betrayal of a close friend"
Describe the kind of relationship David once had with this friend.
"It was very close, even like spiritual brothers."
How did David then describe his close friend in verse 20?
"as his companion"
Have you ever been betrayed by someone very close to you? "Yes"
Whether or not you fell to the temptation, chances are good you were tempted to react destructively over the days, weeks or even months to come. What are a few things you felt like doing whether or not you did?
"I'm fairly certain I've been blessed to be spared from anything like this. If it did happen, I would probably want to retreat into my Sims games for entire days to distract my thoughts from replaying the moments over and over in my mind."
According to Hebrews 4:14-16, on what basis and with what assurance can you go to the throne of grace when you are painfully betrayed?
"That Jesus has felt the same things we are feeling, (we know he was betrayed) He made it through without sinning, and He will help us get through it."
Compare Matthew 26:21 and 26:31. Fill in the following blanks: Christ said that one would "betray" and all would "fall away" on account of Him.
Here is a question to provoke some thought. Why do you think Christ only considered Judas a betrayer even though all the disciples deserted Him and fled (verse 56)?
"The others didn't sell him out; they didn't want Him arrested or help get Him arrested; they just didn't have the courage to risk getting arrested with Him. Judas was a wolf in sheep's clothing, the others were simply frightened sheep."
If you've ever felt betrayed, was part of your injury knowing that the other person would have been aware how hurt you would be? "Yes (3rd grade)"
What was Christ capable of doing?
"knowing people's thoughts"
Which of the following do you think motivated the disciples' falling away? "fear"
We will conclude our lesson by attempting to enact the exhortation given to us in Philippians 2:5. What is it?
"We should have the same attitude as Christ Jesus."
Christ had the power to open the Earth and swallow His opposition, but He didn't. Why didn't He?
"It all needed to happen to fulfill the Scriptures – the writings of the prophets (and to bring salvation to the world)"
Dearest Rachel -
It's weird; upon seeing that you checked the box affirming that you had been betrayed by a close friend, I had a brief moment of wanting to know (not unlike the disciples back in the day): "It wasn't me, was it?" I couldn't imagine how I could have done anything that you might have perceived as such (although I could understand your spirit possibly being disturbed by my attempts to find someone to take your place in my life, but only now that you're gone and aren't coming back), and yet, there was a momentary reaction, not unlike seeing a police vehicle behind you turning on its lights and siren just before speeding right past you, much to your relief.
The later notation of something happening in third grade, however, stirs a certain vague memory of you telling me about a group of girls (at least, I'm pretty sure it was a group in most versions of the story you told me; there may have been a 'queen bee' among them, but it wouldn't have had the force it did if it was just one person. The fact that there were others behind her, laughing at her joke, was what caused you to discover what was going on and recognize it for the betrayal that it was) who showered you with what seemed to be unsolicited compliments, which you expressed appreciation for before you eventually (I don't know how long it took, but it was over a period of time, and multiple incidences of this sort of behavior) realized that, whatever niceties were presented to you, were done so in a sarcastic or facetious manner, and rather than truly meaning well, they secretly saw you as the butt of their alleged humor. The fact that you didn't 'get' the 'joke' right away only reinforced their disdain of you, making it all the more painful when you figured it all out, and realized they weren't the friends you thought they were.
What can I say, honey? Kids can be pretty cruel sometimes (and I mean that in the sense that they are capable of surprising amounts of cruelty, not so much that they're permitted to be that way – although, seeing that stuff like this has a tendency to pass under the radar of the adults in the room, I suppose the fact that they manage to get away with this more often than not makes little difference to their target as to whether it's actually allowed). Thankfully, this didn't seem to prevent you from actively seeking out certain people and cultivating friendships going forward; although it may be that you concluded that the people to truly make friends with were the ones you approached, rather than those who would approach you. If you could pick and choose for yourself, you seem to have concluded, that would be safer; those who would come up to you unbidden were more suspect (although, given our first words together, I wish I could be reminded of why you made an exception for me), That – combined with the knowledge of your truest Friend, got you through the rest of your life, and allowed you to be a friend to nearly all who crossed your path.
I don't know that I'm capable of replicating that in me, honey; hopefully, the Lord can raise up another to fill the needs that you met. But for now, keep an eye on me, and wish me luck. I'm going to need it.
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