cast burdens to God

Cast your burden on the LORD,

and he will sustain you;

he will never permit

the righteous to be moved.

But you, O God, will cast them down

into the pit of destruction;

men of blood and treachery

shall not live out half their days.

But I will trust in you.

Psalm 55:22-23

David wrote these words to process disillusionment, disappointment, betrayal, and bewilderment. A person who was once in his inner circle of friendship and leadership had turned against him. Now that former friend has become a conspirator with his enemies plotting David’s downfall. It is more than David is able to stand (Psalm 55:12-14). It is heartbreaking to experience such a betrayal. It was painful for David and in one sense this psalm is prophetic of what Jesus would experience as one of His friends/disciples would also turn Jesus over to His enemies.

But David trusts God and not the fickle allegiances of people. He knew that the Lord would not fail Him even as people would disappoint him and sometimes seek his destruction. David knew God would be his vindication. God judges the hearts of all. God knew all about the betrayal. God would handle the unrepentant actions of those who turned against His king. And the God of justice would take care of what David had experienced. The treachery would not stand. David needed only to trust the God Who delivers! And so David cast His heavy burden down and let God pick it up.

Lord Who catches what we cast,

Give us the faith to trust You with these heavy burdens. Life can have relational heartaches and burdens of betrayal too intense to emotionally understand. Help us, like David, to cast them to Your wise justice and trust You! And when betrayal is evil and real, You will dispense the proper recompense and justice that is more than equal to the treachery we feel. As for us, help us by Your Word and Your Spirit to trust in You… Jesus, through Your betrayal our souls were saved! We know You know and You provide our hope.

Amen