It was something you told a trusted friend in confidence and now everyone knows about it. Perhaps someone close to you has hurt you in irreversible ways. Maybe a trust was broken causing immense emotional harm.
What do we do when someone close to us betrays us?
The apostles certainly experienced betrayal when Judas appeared in the Garden of Gethsemane with “officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees” to arrest Jesus (John 18:3, NASB).” The man among their inner circle of followers of Jesus turned on them. I can only image the anger and rage they felt along with their fear. It was hard to see God’s plan in the depths of all they were feeling at that moment.
Betrayal is hard. Suddenly those deep connections with someone are severed. It is a deep pain that comes after trust is broken. Yet as the apostles see God’s plan unfold in the resurrected Jesus, they see a path forward beyond betrayal.
It’s interesting in Acts 1, after Jesus ascended into heaven, Peter turns to the Psalms for guidance on what to do about replacing Judas “who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus (16, NASB).” The two Psalms he quotes were written by David when he was dealing with his adversaries. While Peter referenced select verses from these Psalms for guidance on what to do about replacing Judas, I think he may have read these Psalms as he wrestled with the whole betrayal by Judas.
David had to deal with adversaries and opponents for years, even betrayal by those closest to him. The apostles could certainly find some solace in how David laid out his struggle and sorrow. While they could see God’s purpose unfolding in the death and resurrection of Jesus, they still had to deal with the pain of betrayal and what to do next.
Peter used the words of David in the Psalms to guide the apostles on what’s next:
“Brethren, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus (Acts 1:16).”
He quotes from two Psalms:
“May their camp be desolate; May none dwell in their tents (Psalm 69:25).”
“Let another take his office (Psalm 109:8).”
In the wake of Judas’ betrayal, Peter saw a path forward in scripture. He could see God’s greater plan. He left the consequences of Judas’ choice in the hands of God. They could see in scripture that prophecy was being fulfilled. They appointed Mathias to replace Judas and moved on to fulfill God’s plan.
140 Character Christian 