Psalm 55:14—“We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company”

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 (Ps. 55:12-14).

COMMON GRACE ARGUMENT:

“In Psalm 55, we read of what appears to be a positive attitude of friendship and love that Christ had for Judas Iscariot ... In verses 12-14, Christ seems to be speaking of Judas in quite favourable terms: ‘a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance’ and ‘not an enemy’ (though Judas was a reprobate, and Christ would surely have known that). The Savior even mentions them having ‘sweet counsel together’ and ‘walking together into the house of God’ ... Surely this suggests a real and abiding friendship between them? ... If Christ could have such a relationship with that reprobate, surely that means He could also have the same towards all other of His reprobate neighbors? ... a love of Christ for those who are predestined to destruction? (albeit non-saving?)”

(I)

Prof. David J. Engelsma

First off, take note of the obvious fact that the passage says absolutely nothing concerning David/Christ’s attitude toward the betrayer. It describes the circumstances of the relationship in which He stood with the traitor. As a traitor, he occupied a position, not of an enemy outside the sphere of the covenant community, but of a friend within it. For some three years, Iscariot participated in the sweet counsel of Jesus and the twelve. With the others, Judas walked in company with Jesus. This was the objective nature of the position that Judas occupied. What the text is emphasizing is that Judas’ position as one of the twelve was not merely that of an enemy outside the covenant community, but that of a friend, by his confession. He enjoyed nearness to Jesus that was formally that of a friend, just like that of an ungodly hypocrite in the church today. He professed friendship; Jesus on His part never professed love for Judas.

In Psalm 55, the attitude of David/Jesus toward the traitor is expressed in the context of the passage appealed to. “Destroy, O Lord” (v. 9). “Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quickly into hell” (v. 15). “But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction” (v. 23).

There are always in the instituted church reprobate enemies of Christ Jesus. Their position and confession are that they are Jesus’ friends and that Jesus is friend of them. In spiritual reality, they hate Jesus and Jesus hates them, more than He hates enemies outside the church.

Further, if Psalm 55 is expressing a frustrated love of David/Jesus for Judas and all those who are like him, this love is saving, not a common grace-like love. The entire Psalm is about salvation and damnation. There is not even a hint of a non-saving love. And this is the issue: Does Jesus love some persons with a would-be saving love that fails to save them?

Lastly, in this discussion of Judas, do not overlook the explanation of him and his damnation in Acts 1. His traitorous position in the band of disciples and his damnation were foretold and, therefore, ordained (vv. 15-20). His closeness to Jesus was simply the matter of his being numbered with the disciples and occupying part of the apostolic ministry (v. 17). Not a word about a frustrated love of Jesus for him.

To teach a love of Jesus Christ for sinners that can fail and that, in the end, depends upon the sinner for its efficacy, is a denial of salvation by grace.

(DJE, 08/07/2020)