Minute Musings...Closer Than A Brother

Have you ever had your heart broken by the betrayal of one whom you thought was your
friend, one whom you though would always have your best interests and your back no matter
what?  I have, it's a very hard thing to come to grips with the betrayal of one you thought loved
you...one you considered your friend.

This happened to David.  Psalms 55:12 - 14  "For it was not an enemy that reproached
me;  then I could have borne it:  neither was it he that hated me that did magnify him
self against me;  then I would have hid myself from him:  but it was thou, a man mine
equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.  We took sweet counsel together, and walked
unto the house of God in company."  David knew what it was to have someone close to
him suddenly turn and betray him.  It broke his heart, not only by the betrayal, but the loss
of someone whom he had counted a friend.

We are all familiar with the recounting of Judas betraying Jesus.  This did not take the Lord
by surprise, as He knows all.  But it still hurt Him, that one who had been in such close
fellowship with Him for three years, would betray Him for 30 pieces of silver.  Matthew 26:
20 & 21  "Now when the even was come, He sat down with the twelve.  And as they did
eat, He said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me."  Jesus knows the
pain of betrayal.

What about you?  Have you been betrayed, forsaken by one who had called themselves a
friend.  It hurts, I know.  But may I direct you to One who will never let you down.  It tells
us in Proverbs 18:24, "And there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." Jesus
Christ is a friend that you can count on to be with you all the time.  He has promised in
Hebrews 13:5, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."  This is the friend that you can
place all your faith in, you can tell all your problems too, and you can trust with your very
life. 

We are warned about placing our trust in man.  Psalms 118:8  "It is better to trust in
the LORD than to put confidence in man."  Micah 7:5  "Trust ye not in a friend,
put ye not confidence in a guide:"  This is not to mean that the Lord doesn't give us
friends to journey through this world with.  What it does mean, is that first and foremost
your trust, reliance and confidence should be placed in the Lord God, not in man.  Jesus
Christ is the ultimate guide, comforter and friend.