Adios To The Cave

CAVES

Ps. 57:1-3,7

1 ¶ <> Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast. (KJV)

1 <> Ten misericordia de mí, oh Dios, ten misericordia de mí; porque en ti ha confiado mi alma, y en la sombra de tus alas me ampararé, hasta que pasen los quebrantos. (RVG04)

2 I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me. (KJV)

2 Clamaré al Dios Altísimo, al Dios que me favorece. (RVG04)

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. (KJV)

7 ¶ My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise. (KJV)

7 Mi corazón está firme, oh Dios, mi corazón está firme; cantaré y trovaré salmos. (RVG04)

I. Caves for Burials

Gen. 23:19,20

19 And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre: the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan. (KJV)

19 Y después de esto sepultó Abraham a Sara su esposa en la cueva de la heredad de Macpela enfrente de Mamre, que es Hebrón en la tierra de Canaán. (RVG04)

20 And the field, and the cave that is therein, were made sure unto Abraham for a possession of a buryingplace by the sons of Heth. (KJV)

20 Así Abraham adquirió de los hijos de Het el campo y la cueva que había en él, como una propiedad para sepultura. (RVG04)

In the days of the patriarchs, a cave was considered a natural site for burial of loved ones. People would purchase a cave as people today buy a burial site (plot).

So the sight of a cave would automatically be associated with death and sorrow.

II. Caves as Prisons

Joshua 10:22,23

22 Then said Joshua, Open the mouth of the cave, and bring out those five kings unto me out of the cave. (KJV)

22 Entonces dijo Josué: Abrid la boca de la cueva, y sacadme de ella a estos cinco reyes. (RVG04)

23 And they did so, and brought forth those five kings unto him out of the cave, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon. (KJV)

23 Y lo hicieron así, y le sacaron de la cueva aquellos cinco reyes: al rey de Jerusalén, al rey de Hebrón, al rey de Jarmut, al rey de Laquis, al rey de Eglón. (RVG04)

Joshua used this cave as a" holding tank" for some enemy kings until he could deal with them in a more severe manner.

III. Caves as Refuge

1 Sam. 22:1

1 ¶ David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father’s house heard it, they went down thither to him. (KJV)

1 Y yéndose David de allí se escapó a la cueva de Adulam; lo cual como oyeron sus hermanos y toda la casa de su padre, vinieron allí a él. (RVG04)

-David had been called of God for a specific service. He had been moving in that direction. The enemy was doing all possible to foil the advancement of David to the perfect will of God. Things get so desperate that David feels his need to flee and hide in the cave of Adullam.

He went there in despair. He went there in defeat. He went there dejected.

God allowed him to be there for other reasons.

It was not meant to be his prison or his burial place. It was for him to REFOCUS.

He had to understand that this place was not his calling, it was his college.

It is not your destiny, it is your university.

He learned that it was not just about function, but he had to have the unction.

While in the cave, family and friends came and rallied around him.

IV. Caves as an "Escape All"

Sometimes we are like the ostrich with his head in the sand. We just want to shut out everyone and everything.

1 Kings 19:9

9 ¶ And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? (KJV)

9 Y allí se metió en una cueva, donde pasó la noche. Y he aquí vino a él palabra de Jehová, el cual le dijo: ¿Qué haces aquí, Elías? (RVG04)