The Cave Of Adullam

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...