THE CAVE OF ADULLAM
1 Samuel 22:1-2
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. [2] And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.
As you know, David had been anointed the next King of Israel. The only trouble was, that for a long period of time, Saul remained as King of Israel, and became intensely jealous of David, and did his best to eliminate David from the scene altogether.
Saul was living in wickedness and rebellion, and the blessing of God had departed from his life, and David was a major threat to his sense of security as King of Israel.
But David had something that Saul did not have, and that was the favor of God, and patience in waiting for God’s timing in putting him on the throne of Israel.
David even had occasions to take the life of Saul, and one time cut off a piece of Saul’s garment to show he could have done so. The thing that set him apart, was that not only did he not take the life of Saul, but he felt tremendous guilt for cutting the piece of garment:
1 Samuel 24:5-6
Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe. [6] He said to his men, "The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, or lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the Lord."
We see and understand why David was called a “man after God’s own heart”.
Really at this point, most of David’s running as an outlaw and fugitive was just beginning.
He did not become frustrated or angry with God, but continued to remain faithful to Him even in the worst of circumstances and situations.
As I was reading this portion of scripture the other day, there was just something about it that jumped out at me, and spoke to my heart, and I want to share it with you tonight...
It says in vs. 2 that “every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them:”
We often are able to take glances at the lives of men like Joseph, Moses, Abraham, David and others to see types or reminders of what Christ is all about.
I look at this portion of scripture, and realize that we are all like this when we come to Jesus Christ! There is a song that we sing that starts off with the words...”I came to Jesus weary, worn and sad, He took my sins away, He took my sins away”
Didn’t we come to him much the same way? Distressed, In Debt, and Discontented?
We’re going to look at these three areas tonight and take a glance at what Jesus has done for us, and can do for you if you have yet to find your place in this great Army of God.
First of all tonight, we know that we came to Jesus...
I. IN DISTRESS
Here were these men who had lived under the opression, and unfair treatment of King Saul which was getting worse all the time.
This word here “Distress” means outwardly impoverished and harassed.
Their pain was evident that day as they found themselves coming to David in the Cave of Adullam.
These men who flocked to David that day may not have been men that he would have chosen if he had set out to start an army of his own. David clearly was trying not only to escape the wrath of Saul, but I believe also, wanted to get out of the public eye to not allow a revolt to begin centered around him.
These men, for one motive or another found their way to David. But if you were going to start an army, you wouldn’t start one with those that were distressed, discontented, and in debt... OR WOULD YOU?
I think there is something about those that have felt the pain of the past, have no desire for it in the future, and when they love people, have no desire for them to experience it either!
Here came distressed men who had been impoverished with little money or wealth of their own, but willing to offer what they had to fight and defend what little they had left.
Let’s face it, when we come to Jesus, we have nothing to offer Him as we have been distressed and beaten down by the world and it’s ways...
One of the meanings of the word “distressed” here is “harassed”. We need to remember that the Devil is still going about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour, and is also actively harassing the Christian...
We know that according to the Word of God, he is actively accusing the brethren even now!
You can listen to those accusations if you want to, but I’m going to go with what Jesus says about me! 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
One might say that David was a bit discouraged here as well, but David had something about him that knew how to find God in his moment of struggle.
We read in 1 Samuel 30:6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.
1 Samuel 30:18
And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away: and David rescued his two wives.
You cannot take back what the Devil stole from you until you are encouraged in the Lord.
There was something about David who knew how to encourage himself in the Lord that drew these men to him.
I believe that we can go to Jesus Christ today in all of our distress, and he will encourage us!
I believe that you and I can find encouragement in our times of discouragement... Hope in our times of hopelessness!
I believe also that there is often nothing so uniting as pain. Here were men in pain uniting with a man in pain. They were going to do something about it together...
I’m glad that we can bring all of our struggles, pains, and hurts to the foot of the cross to a man who has felt the needs of humanity because he became a man and suffered like you and I...
Hebrews 2:18
Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Are you distressed and harrassed by the Devil and his lies tonight? You can bring your needs to the Cave of Adullam knowing that Jesus Christ is available, and has felt your needs, and is able to respond and help you!
Not only did they come Distressed, but the Bible says that they came...
II. AS DEBTORS
Here were men who had been taxed and overtaxed again, and realized there was no way out of the situation they found themselves in...
Debt was one of the worst evils of ancient times, and the rate of interest was so high that a loan was sure to be utter ruin, not only to the debtor, but also his children might have to be slaves to repay the debt owed.
Many had become impoverished financially because of the exorbitant amounts of interest.
With each payment, there was a fire that was being lit in the spirits of the men...
They began to think about the unfairness of it all, and the fact that there children were going to have to serve as slaves just to pay off the debt.
They looked into the eyes of their children, and looked into the depths of their hearts, and said, we aren’t going to take it any longer!
There’s a song we sing often here, and it is:
“He Paid A Debt He did not owe, I owed a debt I could not pay”
We came to Jesus Christ, in debt, and unable to pay the debt.
The Bible says “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” and it also says that the “wages of sin is death”...
I want you to know today that if you’ll come into the Cave of Adullam and take a glance at the man waiting for you, that debt has already been paid. Your debt was cancelled on the Old Rugged Cross if you’ll just accept it.
The Bible says that He became Sin for us!
The enemy of your soul will tax you, and overtax you, and will leave you along side the road for dead once he’s finished with you, but I’m here to tell you tonight that Jesus Christ came to give us life, and give it more abundantly!
It is said here that David became their Captain! I believe that according to Hebrews 2:10 Jesus Christ became our Captain!
For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
He is the Captain of our Salvation! We are in this great army of the redeemed, following the Captain who has suffered, yet was made perfect in those sufferings!
You will never be able to pay your debt no matter how hard you try. Good works can’t do it. You could never give enough money to the work of God to make it happen. Your debt is paid only as you receive a FREE Gift that came through the shed blood and grace of the Captain of our Salvation, Jesus Christ!
Not only do we come to Jesus Distressed, and in Debt, but I believe we also come to him as...
III. THE DISCONTENTED
Here they were serving in a Kingdom that more and more was becoming oppressive and stifling to the people. King Saul was no longer there to serve, but to be served. No longer was the welfare and well-being of the people the goal, but his comfort was of utmost importance.
There is one thing we need to know about the enemy of our souls and his kingdom. He is not in it for your well-being. He will take all there is to take from you, and will want more and more even after you have given all.
I believe that before a person ever comes to the Lord, they have to become so discontented with the state of their life...
They need to see the futility of riches, and the fleeting illusion of fame.
One of the reasons that it has been stated in the word that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich man to be saved, is that often a rich man sees no need for the salvation of his soul. He has become content, and comfortable in his position.
We need to pray, Lord, comfort the afflicted, and afflict the comforted.
That lost loved one of mine needs to feel the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, and I pray that you would make them so discontented, and dissatisfied with their life, that they would find their way to their own “cave of Adullam” wherever they are...
Even our churches today need people who become discontented with the same old, same old... and the lack of revival and moving of the Holy Spirit in the church.
A man decided to join a monastery and one of the rules of the group was that you were only allowed to speak two words every ten years. At the end of ten years he said, "Bad food!"
Ten more years went by and he said, "Hard bed!"
Finally, on his 30th anniversary with the brothers, he thundered, "I quit!" And the priest in charge responded, "You might as well. All you do is complain anyway."
Discontentment is not always a bad thing!
There are times that our discontentment moves us from one job to another...one part of the country to another... from spiritual complacency to spiritual fervency!
We may take an initial look at the army that David started out with, and think that he started out with a pretty sorry group of guys, but when you begin to think that they had been in Distressed, in Debt, and Discontent, you begin to realize that there was a fire that was burning somewhere in these men to do something about the position they found themselves in...
All they needed was a good captain, and their life was going to amount to something. Their children would be free, and their wives would be blessed. There would be food on the table, and cattle in the stalls!
For those of us today who have joined the Army of God, you may feel outnumbered, and outclassed, but rest assured the kingdom is on the way!
You might feel like you’re in the Cave of Adullam right now, but you have come to the right place. It ain’t over yet!
Don’t forget, Jesus Christ has been anointed King of Kings, and Lord of Lords!
Hebrews 2:7-8
Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: [8] Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.
Rev. 19:11-16
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. [12] His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. [13] And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. [14] And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. [15] And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. [16] And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
