I was told that a divorce hurts more than having your spouse die on you. It’s because a divorce usually involves betrayal and rejection of you as a person. Who knows you like your spouse and yet when she wants to part ways with you, it’s betrayal and rejection all rolled into one…

I’m sorry if I am conjuring up hurtful memories in your past. But I couldn’t help but think that’s how King David felt when he was betrayed by his own son, Absalom. In 2 Samuel 15, I read about David’s son, Absalom, attempting a coup to overthrow his father and become king himself. Can you imagine the pain this caused to David? I’m not sure which is worse. Facing the prospect of losing your kingship or being betrayed by your own son! Probably the latter…

But I read a word that is just stunning as I’m reading about this. “But David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olivesweeping as he went, barefoot and with his head covered.” 2 Samuel 15:30. 

The Mount of Olives is the same place that Jesus was betrayed by Judas! And this is the place that David goes to as he is being betrayed by his own son! It’s almost as if God is putting Himself in the place of David and feeling and absorbing his hurt as He reenacts it in the Person of Jesus Christ.

God knows our hurts of being betrayed. But more than that, God forgives the very ones who betray Him. After all, didn’t you and I betray God? Every time we sin, we are betraying Him because our sin is choosing something over God as of greater value. Therefore, God is placing Himself in the person being betrayed again and again since we sin again and again…

Let us stop sinning, not so that we won’t be punished but so that God won’t be betrayed.

PH