Betrayal

Psalm 55, written by David, is described as a Maschil, or Contemplation. Its purpose, according to the Hebrew meaning, is to attain prudence, to wisely understand, to have insight into something.
The Psalm opens with David describing to God that he is terrified:
"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.
                                                                            Ps. 55:5

David was so distraught and afraid, that he wished he could grow wings like a dove, and fly away into the wilderness, to escape.
However, David was not a man who easily became afraid. He fought lions and bears as a young boy. He fought giants, and enemies that numbered in the ten thousands (1 Sam. 18:7-8, 21:11). He ran from nothing. Something here, though, has brought him great terror.
He describes what he perceives are the spiritual threats against him, and against the city. I believe that these are spiritual threats he is perceiving, because David is a warrior, not fearing human enemies. David saw these things running around the top of the city wall, which a flesh and blood enemy would not be able to do. Also, he saw them carrying out their evil in wide, open places, undiscerned:
"Destroy, O LORD, and divide their tongues,
for I have seen violence (violence, cruelty, wrong, injustice, to make bare) and strife (disputes, quarrelling, complaint, controversy, adversary) in the city.
Day and night, they go around it on its walls;
Mischief (trouble, wickedness, specifically associated with idolatry) and sorrow (trouble, toil, heavy wearisome labor) are also in the midst of it (in the inner part, to draw near, brought near).
Wickedness (evil desire, chasm of destruction, engulfing ruin, greedy desire, and coveting) is in its midst;
Deceit (oppression, injury, fraud, violence, cutting to pieces) and guile (treachery, to mislead, betray) do not depart from its streets (out in the open, wide, broad places).
                                                                                 Ps. 55:9-11

David tells us that it was not a personal, nor national enemy that has created this threat. He said he could bear it if that was the case. He could even hide from it then, if he so chose. This spiritual terror and attack upon him, and the city, came because of a friend:
"But it was thou, a man mine equal,
Mine guide (gentle, intimate friend, teacher),
and mine acquaintance (intimately known).
We took sweet counsel together,
and walked unto the house of God in company.        Ps. 55:13-14

Not only did these spiritual attacks result from the betrayal by a close friend, someone gentle that David would never have expected to betray him, even a trusted advisor, but the friend was also a fellow worshipper of God, a member of the congregation.
David has revealed in this Maschil, or contemplation, that this betrayal opened the door to spiritual attack against himself, and also against the whole city, which was flooded with these destroying spirits. The LORD has revealed this to him, and consequently to us, for prudence and wisdom.
Mt. 24:10, and Mark 13:12 tells us that in the End Times, betrayal will run rampant, even among the closest family members. We know, of course, that Jesus experienced just such a betrayal. Using the illustration of Ps. 55, we can only imagine the terrors released by that betrayal. Psalm 55 may also be a prophetic insight into that betrayal. We have seen betrayal increase within the Body of Christ, against leaders, and against fellow saints. We need to be aware, as David is revealing to us, what powers of evil are loosed through betrayal in the midst.
We should guard our hearts against this wickedness of betrayal, and it should not be allowed to have any part in us. Great damage has already been done because of it.
Is there a remedy for the terrible consequences of betrayal? I believe we have been given an example:
On the night He was betrayed, Jesus offered thanks and obedience to His Father, and He offered His body broken, and His blood poured out for us (1 Cor. 11:23-26).
As we follow His example, we do the same  by offering thanksgiving and obedience to God, and offering ourselves, our bodies, as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to Him (Lev. 22:29, Ps. 107:22, 116:17, Rom. 12:1).
Self-interest breeds betrayal. Perhaps self-sacrifice remedies the terrible fruits of it.

Our Father reveals prudence and wise understanding regarding the personal and corporate costs of betrayal.


"The Kiss-Betrayal of Jesus"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k88Y8VGs7dY

Artwork at top of page- "The Kiss of Judas" (carving) by Francisco Salzillo