Dr. Tan Tek Seng

DAILY REFLECTION
22 Dec 2025

"Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me." Psalm 41:9

Few wounds cut deeper than betrayal. It is not the strike of an enemy that devastates us most, but the breaking of trust by those within our inner circle—those with whom we shared fellowship, loyalty, and life.

David, the shepherd boy who rose to be king, knew this pain intimately. His own son Absalom, whom he loved dearly, conspired against him. And Ahithophel, his trusted counselor and friend—one who had shared bread and counsel at David’s table—turned against him, siding with Absalom in rebellion.

Though chosen by God and anointed as king, David was not shielded from the anguish of broken trust. He tasted disappointment, grief, and the sting of betrayal. Yet David did not allow bitterness to consume him. He carried his lament into the presence of God, trusting that the Lord sees, judges righteously, and redeems what human faithlessness seeks to destroy.

David’s story reminds us that betrayal does not cancel God’s promises. Friends may abandon, confidants may fail, but God remains steadfast. He overturned the counsel of the betrayer, restored David, and reaffirmed His covenant love.

Psalm 41:9 assures us that God understands the anguish of broken trust and invites us to pour out our sorrow to Him and to anchor our hope not in human faithfulness, but in the unfailing love of the Lord who never betrays those who trust in Him.

“Betrayal is a crack in the mirror of trust. You can still see yourself, but it’s never whole again. “