I Samuel 22:1-5
A Gold Doorstop
In 1799, Conrad Reed discovered a seventeen-pound rock while fishing in Little Meadow Creek. Not knowing what it was made of, his family used it as a doorstop for three years.
In 1802, his father, John Reed, took it to a jeweler who identified it as a lump of gold worth about $3,600. That lump of gold, which was used as a doorstop for three years in North Carolina, is one of the biggest gold nuggets ever found east of the Rockies.
Until its composition was determined, its value was unknown. Even so, until the composition of our faith is determined, its strength is unknown. God allows trials in our lives, not to hurt us, but to strengthen and prove us.
Source: Gold Mines in North Carolina, John Hairr & Joey Powell
This morning we join David once again. In chapter 21 we saw David in Gath acting like a madman to avoid being killed or captured. This time David flees to a cave in Adullam.
I Samuel 22:1-5
David’s family hears that he is nearby so they decide to join him in the cave. Not only his brothers, but his parents and everyone from his household.
The cave would soon grow more crowded as the Bible describes three types of people who would soon join David and his family in the cave.
David’s Motley Crew
Everyone who was Distressed
Everyone who was in Debt
Everyone who was Discontent or bitter in soul.
All of these men that had united with David were facing some type of adversity.
It’s striking how similar we are to this motley crew as we come to Christ for salvation.
We have a heavy burden, but Christ takes it and gives us His light load.
We owe a debt we cannot pay. Jesus paid it all.
We are discontent, but Jesus gives us peace that passes all understanding.
Listen to how one commentator describes the group:
G Campbell Morgan
From the view-point of Saul they were the unfit men, who were a menace to the existing order of things. The probability is that they were what they were as a result of the chaotic condition of the kingdom; their distress resulting from the false method of government; their debt due to oppressive taxation; their discontent a righteous discontent with the prevailing wrongs. The true kingliness of David is seen in the effect he produced upon these men. They became an orderly company of mighty men, filled with the high heroic spirit which is capable of splendid loyalty and glorious deeds.
Remember, Saul was the people’s choice for a king.
David was chosen by God. It shouldn’t surprise us that much that Saul had messed things up and people were in bad shape.
So they joined David for some inspiration.
Verse 2 says that David became commander over them.
And there were 400 men.
Imagine 400 men gathered in one cave.
Now imagine 400 distressed, in debt, discontent men in one cave!
David got these men into shape and prepared them for battle. Not just physical battle, David prepared them spiritually.
David shows his Faith through Prayer
Similar to two weeks ago, David also penned two Psalms to shed some light on how he dealt with the events in the cave.
Psalm 57: 1-11 (ESV)
1 To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Miktam of David, when he fled from Saul, in the cave.Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by. 2 I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me. 3 He will send from heaven and save me; he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness! 4 My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down amid fiery beasts– the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. 5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! 6 They set a net for my steps; my soul was bowed down. They dug a pit in my way, but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah. 7 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast! I will sing and make melody! 8 Awake, my glory! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn! 9 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. 10 For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. 11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!
David shows his faith by praying in the cave.
What an incredible example he is setting for the 400 men in his motley crew. His cries to God will not go unanswered.
In Psalm 57 David was not only praying, he was praising God for His faithfulness. He trusts God and will praise him in the midst of his trial.
Psa 142:1-7 ESV
1 A Maskil of David, when he was in the cave. A Prayer. With my voice I cry out to the LORD; with my voice I plead for mercy to the LORD. 2 I pour out my complaint before him; I tell my trouble before him. 3 When my spirit faints within me, you know my way! In the path where I walk they have hidden a trap for me. 4 Look to the right and see: there is none who takes notice of me; no refuge remains to me; no one cares for my soul. 5 I cry to you, O LORD; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.” 6 Attend to my cry, for I am brought very low! Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me! 7 Bring me out of prison, that I may give thanks to your name! The righteous will surround me, for you will deal bountifully with me.
Psalm 142 is a prayer for deliverance. David knows Saul is desperate to kill him, but he knows that God can protect him from harm. He has full faith that God will rescue him.
Back to I Samuel 22.
Verse 3 tells us that David went over to Moab to speak with the king to ask if he would watch over his elderly parents until he knew what God was going to do for him.
The king of Moab was an enemy of Saul, so he may have used that to his advantage. You know the saying, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
However, David did have some Moab blood, his great grandmother was Ruth, who we know was from Moab.
This could have helped the king in his decision to house David’s elderly parents.
Two things stand out here in the cave of Adullam.
David Provides for his Parents.
He knew it would not be safe for them in the cave in the
midst of any upcoming conflict, so he found a safe haven
for them. This place was also around 70 miles from the
cave where they were.
David Shows Faith by his Actions
David told the king of Moab that he needed time to see what God was going to do for him. He was placing his faith in God to keep him safe. He knew that God had plans for him. He trusted God to help him defeat the giant in Gath.
He is now trusting God to keep him safe from Saul.
He shares that faith with the king as he tells him he is waiting to see what God will do for him.
We also should be willing to tell others of our faith as we wait for God.
Also, David shows great faith when Gad tells him to leave the security of the cave for Judah.
David had found protection in the cave, yet Gad was telling him to leave for Judah. This was surely a more dangerous situation for David, but Gad was delivering a message from God.
Gad was likely a student of Samuel and also a prophet.
David didn’t hesitate to listen to the message of Gad and he went out to Judah.
God places us right where He wants us. It’s our responsibility to obey Him as He sends us to accomplish His will.
What does God want to teach us from the Scripture this morning?
APPLICATION
Trust God Prayerfully
The best thing we can do during any trial is to pray.
When we don’t know how to pray, why not turn to the Psalms to pray like David prayed?
God can handle our prayers even when we are hurting or heartbroken or angry. He knows what we are going through.
Trust God Practically
We can also show our trust in God by living obediently to the calling He has called us to.
Sharing how we handle our trials with others is a great way to practically trust God.
Another way is to keep our feet going where God tells us to go. When we sense the leading of the Holy Spirit, we should act immediately.
God wants our obedience.