The Cave of Adullam

Scripture:

1 Samuel 22:1-2 David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father's household heard about it, they went down to him there. (2) All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him.

Observation:

Those in trouble, in debt, or discontented joined David, who himself was an outlaw. These people were outcasts themselves and could only improve their lot by helping David become king. David's control over this band of men again shows his resourcefulness and ability to lead and motivate others. It is difficult enough to build an army out of healthy, strong men, but it takes even greater leadership to build one out of the kind of men that followed David. This group eventually formed the core of his military leadership.

David didn't choose wilderness living; he had nowhere else to go when Saul isolated him from his family, ended his military career and banned him from the palace. The wilderness experience starts out with feelings of disconnection and isolation, and usually gets worse before it gets better. Hoping to form an alliance with the Philistines in Goliath's hometown, David went to Gath. After all, when Saul's your mutual enemy you naturally become friends, right? Wrong!

The Philistines wanted nothing to do with David. So with yet another door closed, he escaped to the cave of Adullam where he turned back to God. There he became a magnet for "those who were in distress or in debt or discontented" (1 Samuel 2:22). The Bible says, "They came to David… to help him, until it was a great army, like the army of God" (1 Chronicles 12:22). Not exactly a model congregation!

Do you know what the name Adullam means? A place of refuge! Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" (Luke 5:31-32).

Strong churches are built from people who were "in distress or in debt or discontented". Do you remember being there? Paul said, "Take a good look… at who you were when you got called… I don't see many of 'the brightest and the best'… not many influential, not many from high-society families… .God deliberately chose men and women… the culture overlooks… exploits and abuses, chose these 'nobodies' to expose the hollow pretensions of the 'somebodies'" (1 Corinthians 1:26-28).

Application:

Although he was raised in a good home, Whit Criswell got hooked on gambling and ended up embezzling from the bank where he worked. When the auditors found out he decided to end his life. He wrote a suicide note, drove to the outskirts of town, parked his car and put a gun to his head, saying, "Go ahead, you no-good slob, it's what you deserve." But he couldn't do it. So at dawn he returned home where police arrested him. He felt humiliated being handcuffed in front of his friends and family. But he was also liberated, because he no longer had to live a lie. Criswell's prison cell became his 'cave of Adullam', the place where he turned back to God. When he was released in 1987 he joined a church doing odd jobs, and eventually became a staff member. In 1998 another church asked him to be their senior pastor and today it's one of Kentucky's fastest growing congregations.

Another cave dweller 'ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven', by the amazing grace of God!

The introduction to Psalm 57 describes it as "a song of David when he fled from Saul into the cave". In the first verse he says, "Be merciful to me, O God… my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, until these calamities have passed by".

Are you feeling "down on your luck" today? Do you see yourself as damaged goods? Are you in distress, discontent or in debt?

Instead of wandering alone in the wilderness, find what you need in God's presence. Understand that their are others all around you struggling in the Cave of Adullam. We will discuss this further in tomorrow's blog. Please pray the following prayer with me if you are facing a difficult time:

Prayer:

"Lord, I thank you for your blessings, your faithfulness, your compassion and your workings in my life. You have never left me nor forsake me. I know you never will. There are times that I have found myself in the Cave of Adullam. I have been distressed, discontent, or in debt up to my eye balls. Nevertheless, you remain faithful. I come to you in the midst of my difficulties, disappointments, discouragements, depressions, and moments of despair and I get still and listen for Your still small voice. I know you will give me the direction and help that I need. I love you Lord, and patiently listen. In Jesus name! Amen."

Blessings!

Pastor Rusty