David's Cave - Five Keys To Victory 4 Of 4 Series

Title: How To Behave In A Cave – 5

“David’s Cave – Five Keys to Victory – 4”

Text: Psalm 57:1-11

The past few weeks we have been talking about caves. A cave is a type of a dark hour, a struggle, or a serious valley that you are facing. This series has been so powerful to me. It is so encouraging knowing that no matter what cave we are in, God is going to bring us out. Over the next few weeks, as we wrap up this series on “How to Behave in a Cave,” I know that God is going to continue to teach us some principles that we can put into practice to help us come out of our cave victorious. This cave is not meant to last forever, it is just for a season of your life just like it was only for a season in the life of David.

So far we have learned some principles from David to help us know how to behave while in the midst of this cave. This Psalm that we have read for our text was written while David was in the thick of the cave. We know from this text that there are some things that we need to put into practice just as David did in order to come out of our cave victorious.

I. DAVID LEARNED TO TAKE REFUGE IN GOD

Psalm 57:1; ¶ “Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusts in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.”

David made God his refuge. REFUGE: DEFINITION

1. Shelter or protection from danger and distress

2. A place that provides shelter or protection

3. Something to which one has recourse in difficulty

4. Recourse actually means: A turning to someone or something for help or protection. A source of help or strength.

II. DAVID LEARNED TO CRY OUT TO GOD

Psalm 57:2; “I will cry unto God most high;”

III. DAVID LEARNED TO DECLARE THE PROMISES OF GOD

Psalm 57:2-3; “I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.”

Last week I preached myself happy, reading all the Scriptures concerning God being an ALL-TIME God that does ALL things for us. Once you know the promises of God and begin to stand on them, then no enemy in hell can steal that Word of God from you. Today we are going to finish up on David’s cave.

IV. DAVID LEARNED TO EXPECT VICTORY

Psalm 57:3; “He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.”

Not only did David learn to declare the promises of God when in the midst of his cave, He also expected God to fulfill every one of those promises. He expected God to deliver him. He expected victory.

David said in Psalm 62:5; “My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.”

As we learned on Tuesday night, we get what we expect from the Lord. David expected victory over this cave. If you are going to be delivered from this cave, you have to have an expectation for deliverance. It is important during this time to wait upon the Lord and in that waiting time to expect great things.

David knew God was able and willing to deliver him out of the caves in life. Regardless of what his circumstances looked like, David knew God would send forth His mercy and His truth (Word). Truth is a powerful force that God sends to those who make Him their refuge and cry out to Him in faith. Once you know the truth of who God is and what He has said in His Word, that truth will set you free. David was ready and FULLY expecting God to set him free from that cave. There was no doubt in his mind because His expectation was from God.

David understood the protection of God. He understood the truth of who God is and how God was going to treat him. Listen to another Psalm of David:

Psalm 91:1-12; ¶ “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. 3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. 4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. 5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; 6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. 7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. 8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. 9 ¶ Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; 10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. 11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.”