My own familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me. (Psalm 41:9)
As with many of David’s psalms, not only are they expressions of his heart and the emotions evoked by his circumstances, they are also prophetic, specifically in regard to the Messiah. As David suffered, so too would the Son of David, the Messiah. David was betrayed by friends, thus establishing a prophetic template for what was to occur to Yeshua. In fact on the eve of His crucifixion, just after acknowledging the disciples as His servants, He quoted this very psalm: “I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.’ Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I am He” (John 13:18-19).
That they would realize He was the One of whom Scripture had prophesied, He told them in advance He would be betrayed by one sitting among them, eating bread with them. Again, it is one thing to be attacked by those who hate you; it is another thing entirely to be betrayed by someone who, in times past, had professed to love you. One would like to think that this could never happen to us, but alas, it has been going on since the world began. Cain lured his own brother into a field and killed him. Esau, distraught over the fact that the blessing of the firstborn was given to Jacob, conspired to kill his brother. Messiah was rejected by His kinsmen; “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him” (John 1:11). This is the way of it.
As despairing as this may sound, what we, as disciples and servants, must remember is that we are destined to suffer with Him if we are to share in His glory (Romans 8:17). Put simply, no suffering, no glory. Our suffering will, no doubt, include attacks from without and betrayal from within. Nevertheless as Paul taught, the focus for all believers should not be on what is lost but what is to be gained: specifically, that we might “know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings” (Philippians 3:10). If we partake of Messiah’s sufferings, then we shall share in His glory as triumphant sons and daughters of God. It is not an easy task but we have this assurance — because He has overcome, He will give us the strength and power to overcome.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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