HOW DOES GOD VIEW BETRAYAL?

1 Chronicles 12:17 . . . David went out to meet them and said, “If you have come in peace to help me, we are friends. But if you have come to betray me to my enemies when I am innocent, then may the God of our ancestors see and judge you.”

Psalm 31:23 . . . Love the Lord, all you faithful ones! For the Lord protects those who are loyal to him, but he harshly punishes all who are arrogant.

Isaiah 33:1 . . . Destruction is certain for you Assyrians, who have destroyed everything around you but have never felt destruction yourselves. You expect others to respect their promises to you, while you betray your promises to them. Now you, too, will be betrayed and destroyed!

Matthew 26:24 . . . “I, the Son of Man, must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for my betrayer. Far better for him if he had never been born!”
God views betrayal as sin and judges accordingly. Betrayal is sin because it helps and promotes self by hurting others.

HOW ARE WE GUILTY OF BETRAYING GOD TODAY?

Jeremiah 3:20 . . . “You have betrayed me, you people of Israel! You have been like a faithless wife who leaves her husband,” says the Lord.

Psalm 78:37 . . . Their hearts were not loyal to him. They did not keep his covenant.

Our disloyalty to God is betrayal to him. We are disloyal to God when something else is more important than him, or when we trust in something or someone else to help us without even acknowledging him or asking for his help first.

Nehemiah 9:26 . . . Despite all this, they were disobedient and rebelled against you.

Our disobedience to God is betrayal to him. We disobey when we do something God’s Word tells us not to do, or when we don’t do something God’s Word tells us to do.

Numbers 5:6 . . . “Give these instructions to the people of Israel: If any of the people-men or women-betray the Lord by doing wrong to another person, they are guilty.”

Our doing wrong to another person is betrayal to God, because you are breaking your pledge of loyalty and obedience to him.

HOW CAN WE AVOID BETRAYING OTHERS?

Matthew 24:10 . . . Many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other.

2 Timothy 3:4 . . . They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God.
Obey God and love each other.

Proverbs 11:13 . . . A gossip goes around revealing secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence.

Proverbs 20:19 . . . A gossip tells secrets, so don’t hang around with someone who talks too much.
Avoid gossiping and gossips.

Proverbs 14:25 . . . A truthful witness saves lives, but a false witness is a traitor.

1 Peter 3:10 . . . The Scriptures say, “If you want a happy life and good days, keep your tongue from speaking evil, and keep your lips from telling lies.”

Proverbs 25:18 . . . Telling lies about others is as harmful as hitting them with an axe, wounding them with a sword, or shooting them with a sharp arrow.
Tell the truth and never speak lies about another.

Psalm 55:12-14, 20 . . . It is not an enemy who taunts me-I could bear that. It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me-I could have hidden from them. Instead, it is you-my equal, my companion and close friend. What good fellowship we enjoyed as we walked together in the house of God. . . . As for this friend of mine, he betrayed me; he broke his promises.
Keep your promises.

Proverbs 19:22 . . . Loyalty makes a person attractive. And it is better to be poor than dishonest.

Proverbs 3:3 . . . Never let loyalty and kindness get away from you! Wear them like a necklace; write them deep within your heart.
Practice loyalty and kindness to others.

Psalm 41:9 . . . Even my best friend, the one I trusted completely, the one who shared my food, has turned against me.

Proverbs 17:17 . . . A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.

Proverbs 20:6 . . . Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is really faithful?
Be true, faithful friends.

Malachi 2:14-16 . . . You cry out, “Why has the Lord abandoned us?” I’ll tell you why! Because the Lord witnessed the vows you and your wife made to each other on your wedding day when you were young. But you have been disloyal to her, though she remained your faithful companion, the wife of your marriage vows. Didn’t the Lord make you one with your wife? In body and spirit you are his. And what does he want? Godly children from your union. So guard yourself; remain loyal to the wife of your youth. “For I hate divorce!” says the Lord, the God of Israel. “It is as cruel as putting on a victim’s bloodstained coat,” says the Lord Almighty. “So guard yourself; always remain loyal to your wife.”
Guard your heart from doing wrong, keep your vows, and remain faithful to your spouse.

WHAT SHOULD WE DO WHEN WE FEEL BETRAYED?

Matthew 10:21 . . . “Brother will betray brother to death, fathers will betray their own children, and children will rise against their parents and cause them to be killed.”

Daniel 7:25 . . . He will defy the Most High and wear down the holy people of the Most High. He will try to change their sacred festivals and laws, and they will be placed under his control for a time, times, and half a time.

Matthew 10:35-36 . . . I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. Your enemies will be right in your own household!
Realize that betrayal may be a part of everyone’s experience, even when we are Christians. Expect it and you won’t be surprised when it comes. Prepare for it and you will be less surprised.

Luke 21:12-19 . . . Before all this occurs, there will be a time of great persecution. You will be dragged into synagogues and prisons, and you will be accused before kings and governors of being my followers. This will be your opportunity to tell them about me.
So don’t worry about how to answer the charges against you, for I will give you the right words and such wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to reply! Even those closest to you-your parents, brothers, relatives, and friends-will betray you. And some of you will be killed. And everyone will hate you because of your allegiance to me. But not a hair of your head will perish! By standing firm, you will win your souls.
We should use every opportunity to tell others about God. But we should expect that we may be persecuted for our witness. God expects us to hold fast and not give up.

Jeremiah 12:6 . . . Even your own brothers, members of your own family, have turned on you. They have plotted, raising a cry against you. Do not trust them, no matter how pleasantly they speak.

Psalm 118:8 . . . It is better to trust the Lord than to put confidence in people.
Sometimes we realize that we cannot trust a particular person; however, we can always trust God. All of us humans will fail at some time. God will not.

Luke 22:33-34 . . . Peter said, “Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you, and even to die with you.” But Jesus said, “Peter, let me tell you something. The rooster will not crow tomorrow morning until you have denied three times that you even know me.”
We are to continue to love the betrayer. Jesus set the model. Love the sinner but not the sin. Love the betrayer, but not the act of betrayal.

Ephesians 4:31-32 . . . Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Genesis 33:4, 9-11 . . . Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him affectionately and kissed him. Both of them were in tears. . . . “Brother, I have plenty,” Esau answered. “Keep what you have.” “No, please accept them,” Jacob said, “for what a relief it is to see your friendly smile. It is like seeing the smile of God!”
We are to forgive each other, even when someone betrays us.

Genesis 50:19-21 . . . Joseph told them, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, to judge and punish you? As far as I am concerned, God turned into good what you meant for evil. He brought me to the high position I have today so I could save the lives of many people. No, don’t be afraid. Indeed, I myself will take care of you and your families.” And he spoke very kindly to them, reassuring them.
We are to see God’s hand in our lives. Even when someone sins against us, such as betraying us, God may pick up the pieces and make something good from them.

PROMISES FROM GOD:

Psalm 89:33-34 . . . I will never stop loving him, nor let my promise to him fail.
No, I will not break my covenant; I will not take back a single word I said.

Romans 3:3 . . . True, some of them were unfaithful; but just because they broke their promises, does that mean God will break his promises?

Isaiah 54:10 . . . “The mountains may depart and the hills disappear, but even then I will remain loyal to you. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,” says the Lord, who has mercy on you.

 

Original authored and published by Visual Bible Alive Resource Centre