David Gathers A Band Of Outcasts In The Cave Stronghold Series

Two roads are beginning to form, two roads in two starkly different directions. We’ve both been on these roads. Maybe not to this extreme, but we have. We’ve seen where God’s path leads, to hope, to challenges, to victory, and yes, the valley of the shadow of death too, dark times, but, we’ve also seen where the road of self-sufficiency leads, compromises, paranoia, slowly going against everything we say we believe, until we’re doing things we never thought we’d do.

Two houses are being built, one is solid, the other is brittle, and caving in on itself. These are the two paths, one of David, the man of God, and Saul, the man in rebellion.

David’s on the run, he went to Nob, then Gath, but now he’s found a place to hide out. He is hiding out in a cave. For the end times Christians, who see the rise of the anti-Christ, well, they may see that day, where Christians are living in caves.

But it says this, 1st Samuel 22:1-2 says, “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 commander. About four hundred men were with him.”

It's nice to have family that comes and helps you in your time of need. David’s family comes and gathers around him during this difficult time. Additionally, we see people who are distressed, people who are in major debt, and just discontented people gather around him, in the cave. And he becomes the commander of this band of outcasts.

He's living in a cave, but four hundred misfits and troublemakers gather around him and he becomes their leader. And they all live in the cave together. His family is there for him too.

The Bible refers to it as the cave of Adullam, but also refers to it as the stronghold or fortress. So it may have been an old fortified structure attached to the side of a mountain, maybe that wasn’t in use anymore.

David’s character is that of a leader, even in exile, even in hiding, people see he’s a leader and they want to follow him.

To follow Jesus is to take on a sort of leadership role in relationships. You are now shepherding people closer to Jesus. And people will begin to look to you to help guide them toward God. Do you see that happening in your own life? Then I would say you need to begin taking actions to guide people toward God. What sort of actions? Simple things. Inviting people to church is one. Bringing people to church is another. There is a difference. Sitting down and reading the Bible with a friend is another thing. Inviting people to Christian events in the community. Forming a group to go to a Christian venue. Pretty soon you are a leader, sort of gathering people together to seek God. Or simply sitting down one on one with people to guide them closer to God.

But don’t be surprised if you don’t seem to have many victories. Often times we as Christians have this message that could reach millions for Christ, but God starts us off very small, doing little things, with great love. And it doesn’t seem to be accomplishing much, but, God sees the big picture, that it takes years and years of faithful service to see seismic change. Be patient and work steadily, with endurance.

Embrace your cave experience. It's common for any Christian, or Christian leader for that matter. God tests us in the cave of Adullam. You believe you're made for great things, then serve here humbly in obscurity for a season. Show me you're able to serve. Otherwise the heroic victorious phase will destroy you, pride will corrupt your heart and you'll become a Saul in the end.

But David is still concerned for his parents, who are getting older in years. He knows he can’t keep them safe in the caves. So then it says in verse 3…

1st Samuel 22:3-5 says, “3 From there David went to Mizpah in Moab and said to the king of Moab, “Would you let my father and mother come and stay with you until I learn what God will do for me?” 4 So he left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him as long as David was in the stronghold.

5 But the prophet Gad said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold. Go into the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.”

So David has been in the fortress cave for quite a while, but, God tells David to leave Adullam, and go back into the land of Israel. So David ends up with his gang of followers in the forest now. He probably sets up camp. Builds fires, and they live in the woods for a while.