Year of Realization - Day 56: Sometimes you’re sleeping with the enemy.

“Queen Esther replied, “If I have found favor with the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my request, I ask that my life and the lives of my people will be spared. For my people and I have been sold to those who would kill, slaughter, and annihilate us. If we had merely been sold as slaves, I could remain quiet, for that would be too trivial a matter to warrant disturbing the king.” “Who would do such a thing?” King Xerxes demanded. “Who would be so presumptuous as to touch you?””

‭‭Esther‬ ‭7‬:‭3‬-‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

If anybody knew about being betrayed by a friend, it was David. Saul—who supposedly loved him—tried several times to kill him. Indeed, David‘s own family at different times tried to do him in.

“For it is not an enemy who taunts me— then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me— then I could hide from him. But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. My companion stretched out his hand against his friends; he violated his covenant. His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭55‬:‭12‬-‭13‬, ‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭ESV‬

Sadly, David also betrayed the trust of a friend in the case of Uriah.

The Lord warned us that a relationship with Him could cause our family and friends to turn on us.

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For 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. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭10‬:‭34‬-‭36‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Indeed, Jesus includes betrayal by friends as a feature of the Last Days before His return.

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭24‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Sadly, we know that Jesus was betrayed by one of His own. Judas Iscariot, one of the 12 disciples, betrayed Jesus with a kiss.

“The traitor, Judas, had given them a prearranged signal: “You will know which one to arrest when I greet him with a kiss.””

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭48‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“But Jesus said, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?””

‭‭Luke‬ ‭22‬:‭47‬-‭48‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Paul warned Timothy that in the Last Days persecution would come from friends.

“You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!”

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬, ‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

And speaking of betrayal by friends, in our opening scripture we see that Esther has finally begun to tell the king what she needs. Upon hearing that his beloved queen is being plotted against, the king is dismayed by the thought of who would do such a thing. He had no idea that the culprit was Haman, his right hand man. And, in this case, neither did Haman. But that consideration is for tomorrow.

In these last days before the coming of Jesus Christ we may find that our enemies might be found very close within our own ranks. But we need not fear; our Lord knows the hearts of all men; and He will be with us to the very end.

“Do not turn your back on me. Do not reject your servant in anger. You have always been my helper. Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me, O God of my salvation! Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭27‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!

#yearofrealization