I suppose that there is little else that is more demoralising than having a FRIEND, in whom you trusted, let you down. It is often said that there are few people in life in whom you can place your complete trust; however, you expect to be able to trust a friend. Sadly, however, even this is often found to be untrue.

In the Old Testament, King David had a close confidant, whom he described in warm and affectionate terms: ‘my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread’, Psalm 41 verse 9. Sadly, we can even be deceived by those who are closest to us. Clearly, David was referring to Ahithophel, 2 Samuel chapter 15 verses 12 & 31; chapter 16 verses 20 & 23. This man had been David’s friend and counsellor; yet, he turned traitor and followed Absalom, the usurper.

Probably, David was referring to him, when he wrote, ‘But it was you, a man my equal, my companion and my acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked to the house of God in the throng’, Psalm 55 verses 13 and 14. David thought he could trust him implicitly as he faced those who sought to seize the crown from him. How wrong he was! Perhaps he had a hidden agenda that David had not reckoned with. Ahithophel, after all, was the grandfather of Bathsheba, with whom David had committed adultery and this gave him the opportunity for revenge!

One thing that is certain from the Scriptures is the fact that Ahithophel points forward to Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus. Both men were traitors and ended up committing suicide. However, there is a significant difference in the words spoken of them. David referred to Ahithophel as ‘my own familiar friend in whom I trusted’, But when Jesus referred to Judas, He never said of him, ‘in whom I trusted’. John tells us, ‘For He knew who should betray Him‘. It was possible for David to be deceived but it was not so with Jesus! We can never deceive Him!