Psalm 35:11-18
Is it my imagination? I somehow recall Debbie commenting on the “friends” for whom David grieved while they were ill, only to see them turn on him when he was “stumbling” (vv. 13-16). But if not Debbie, it’s still worth a comment. It’s hard to imagine a situation such as the one that David faced, when dear, trusted friends do an about-face like he describes. But we read about David’s son Absalom turning the hearts of the people his way, then revolting against his father’s leadership (see II Samuel 15, ff.). It could be this situation that David is describing, referring to his former friends who now turned against him and sided with Absalom. Truly David has a second lament in this chapter with its three sub-laments.
The writer of Hebrew’s has a small section where he seems to speak of a similar situation: For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame. (Hebrews 6:4-6) Can it be true that there is no forgiveness for a believer who has turned away from the Lord? That’s hard to imagine, but it’s there in Scripture and we hold to these truths. Still, these are a difficult few verses.
Incidentally, we see the exact opposite of David’s lament in our political realm, especially in the primaries when people in one party turn against each other in their attempt to become the nominee, then embrace and become solid supporters of the primary winner in the general election. The exact opposite…!