Have you ever been betrayed?

Psalm 55:12-14

For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: But it was thou,  a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.

This was written by David, about the betrayal of Ahithophel, one of his closest advisors, and his wife Bathsheba’s grandfather. This passage also describes Judas’ betrayal of Christ. Have you ever been betrayed like this? By someone close to you–a person you thought was a friend? I have. It is only when we are down and out that we truly know who our friends are. Job also found this out.

Throughout the book of Job, you can read about the “encouragement” of these high and mighty (in their opinion) so called friends. Even though Job found out the true nature of these three men who he thought were his friends, God never let him down; God was shown to be consistent in His nature toward Job–He showed Job just as much grace when he was destitute as when he had been wealthy. God’s nature does not change–one of the many lessons in the book of Job

Now most of us–had this happened to us–would have wanted to see those friends dealt with severely by God. They weren’t–but they were chastised and told to offer sacrifice. Do you know what that tells me? These men were saved–they knew the Lord in a very real way, but their hearts were far from him, and so they condemned a man whom God had justified.

Hebrews 12:6
For the Lord disciplines the one He loves and punishes every son He receives.

Furthermore, God required Job to forgive these friends, and not only to forgive them, but to intercede for them for forgiveness for the very sin they had committed against him.

And Job did.

I believe that Job truly forgave them because God would not have accepted the sacrifice he offered for them, other wise.