Comfort in Emotional Cave-Dwelling

“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. All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred were with him.”

1 Samuel 22:1-2

Calamity. Strife. Hardship. Suffering. Life is certainly not without its share of setbacks. At one point or another we are bound to experience a disconcerting series of events that will test our resolve and character. And this is the setting in which we approach 1 Samuel 22. David had recently undergone a pendulum swing of sentiments. At the emotional mountaintop, David had been anointed by Samuel the priest (per God’s supernatural guidance) to replace Saul as Israel’s king (1 Samuel 16). Not long after, David showed immense courage and toppled a fearsome warrior and giant named Goliath (1 Samuel 17). People praised David’s bravery, which sparked a jealous rage in Saul. And shortly thereafter David was ushered into an emotional valley. David was forced to flee for his life because King Saul had determined to kill David. Beginning in 1 Samuel 19 David embarked upon a fugitive lifestyle. He crisscrossed Israel’s landscape, and even went outside to neighboring enemy territories to evade Saul’s vindictive grasp.

In 1 Samuel 22 David came to reside in the cave of Adullam. Interestingly enough, Adullam was not far from where David defeated Goliath. Furthermore, it was only some 13 miles west of Bethlehem, where David was raised. But even though the cave of Adullam was near David’s homeland a cave is still a cave and its cold, dark environment reflected the emotional state David likely was captive to upon his travels to Adullam. Realize that much had been taken away from David because of Saul. David had been stripped of his best friend, Jonathan, Saul’s son. He had been stripped of his wife, Michal, Saul’s daughter. He had been stripped of his service as a musician in Saul’s court. He had been stripped of his dignity and his ability to sleep without fear of dying a sudden, murderous death. All that David had left was a promise from God that he would be the next king of Israel, which contained an implication that he would somehow survive Saul’s homicidal quest. 

 

But nothing on the surface looked hopeful for David. He was not only at odds against his king, a king fully committed to exhausting the country’s resources in order to slay David, but he was at odds with his own countrymen for many were loyal to King Saul and if they discovered David’s whereabouts they would not hesitate to disclose David’s location, knowing it would likely lead to David’s demise. David was effectively on his own, which is a frightening place to find yourself. The giant-slayer swiftly became a cave-dweller. He went from being revered to being a renegade in mere moments. The heir apparent to the throne was reduced to running and hiding in caves just to stay alive. Life can turn upside-down without warning. But notice what transpired after David settled in the cave of Adullam: some four-hundred downtrodden people came to settle there with David too.

Suddenly, the loner was not alone. At first glance, this crowd of debtors and discontents may not seem like the optimal body of people that would provide solace to a crushed, devastated David. But God knew exactly what He was doing and revealed His sovereign hand in this situation. Who could better understand the depth of despair than those who were mired in doubt and disillusionment? Who could better relate to David than those who had lost much? Who could better seek comfort in pain with David than those who were themselves grief-stricken? But here is the underlying message about this chapter in David’s life: our foundation and footing is on God, and not anyone or anything else. Saul’s hunt for David forced David to rely upon God like never before. The Lord had to become the spiritual shelter in which David inhabited. When a person learns to trust God in all things and stand on His holy, everlasting word then he or she can become a mighty agent of God. This was true of David. It should be true of us.