ADULLAM. 1st Samuel 22 David traveled back from Gath to Israel even though he was a stranger and a foreigner in his own country. He must have known about the cave of Adullam from previous experiences in better days. Now, it was of serious concern to his family that Saul would come seeking vengeance on David by attacking them. The insane king was by now openly opposed to David, and it was known he would not rest until he killed his own son-in-law, who had been a deliverer of Israel.
Sometimes, a person seeking to follow the Lord may find he is despised, forgotten, or made an object of derision and jealousy by his kinfolks. If that ever happens, do not act hastily and seek to retaliate. Arguing and trying to justify our call and actions to unreasonable people only exacerbates the problem. Just wait; in God's own time and way, He will bring them to understand what you couldn't if He desires. It may be through circumstances in their lives or yours that they will recognize the value of what you do and why you do it.
The coming of David's family may have comforted David somewhat, but he needed a place of safety for them to live where Saul would not reach them. The king of Moab allowed them to dwell at Mizpah, where they wouldn't fear Saul's persecution and oppression. Like our Lord who blessed those of His own who had belittled and overlooked Him, David, in grace, brought them into a safe place.
To many, the outside place is belittled and overlooked as anything of importance, but we need to remember the object of our attraction isn't the place, but the Shepherd-King who is outside the camp, and we gather unto Him. He gathers His flock to Himself, not some great impressive edifice or huge organization. In a continuous sense, we are and have been gathered together in His name unto Him alone. Even though the “Cave of Adullam” is not the most comfortable and convenient place, it is the place of separation from evil and reproach from the world because our heavenly David is there. Because of Him, it is a place of fellowship, authority, ministry, prayer, praise, and worship.
According to Psalm 142, David knew his only refuge and portion was the Lord Himself. The Lord heard his complaint and supplication and knew his desperation and what David didn't know. The cave of Adullam was a place of separation for all who joined David there. Those who were in trouble for one reason or another and were outcasts of society knew their only hope for the future was to associate with David. For David to make a useful army out of discontented men called for a special kind of leadership. They would have to trust his judgment, accept him as an undisputed leader, and yield to his leadership.
We are perfectly within our rights as children of God to pour out our hearts to our Father honestly, and our frustration can be expressed to Him without fear of mockery or anger. But we also need to remember our wise, heavenly Father knows what is best for us and allows the difficulties to come on us that will best shape our character to be like Christ. We do not belong in the world even though we live in it. There is no hope for the people of God in the systems of the world. We must be where our Lord is and find our rest and joy in Him. Those of us who have experienced the blessings of the kingdom of God are definitely discontented with the self-seeking, godless leadership of the world and the flesh underneath the authority of the god of this world.
Those who follow the Lord will find themselves in a place of reproach, where most comments about what we do and who we are will be negative. Responding in a similarly negative way is counterproductive. In some of those hard times, we will find ourselves in a place where we have sweet fellowship in ways we wouldn't expect. When we are in fellowship with God, we usually find people with whom we can have fellowship, even if we never knew them before.
"No matter where on earth we dwell, On mountaintop or in the vale. In cottage or in mansion fair, Where Jesus is 'tis heaven there."
David may have had to listen to many grievances from those who came to him in the cave. He would be able to say to them, "I know. I've been there. But God comforted me and strengthened me to go through those difficulties, and 'what He did for me, He'll do for you.'"
The prophet, Gad, also came to the cave. God brought His word through His servant right to the right place and time. Saul didn't hear the word of the Lord as he sat under a tree in Gibeah with his spear in his hand and railed against his own son, the priests, and the Benjamite guards. In the outside place, the cave of Adullam, God's word revealed His mind and what His true servant was to do. We can expect God to make plain to us His will when we are willing to do it with our might "as unto the Lord."
Kindred-spirited saints in the family of God meet together there with our Lord. Those who are needy, burdened, distressed, and discontented with the world and all associated with it can find fellowship and comfort when we gather unto Him, “the homeless stranger, outside the camp.” It is in that place that God can send us “prophets” to pass on the word of God to us in words and ways we can understand. It is there the priest makes intercession for us and is our advocate.
Forms and flesh do not give a place for the word of the Lord. In contrast, the Spirit of God referenced this event years later in the book of Isaiah, chapter sixteen. David's family could stay in Moab, but by the word of the Lord for His servant, David was led by Him back to the wilderness of Judah. While in that wilderness, he wrote the words of Psalm 63. His soul was thirsting for God. His flesh longed for God. His lips praised God. His hands were lifted up to God. His soul was satisfied with God. His mouth praised God. His bed was the place where he meditated on God in the night. His help was God. He rejoiced in God.
Sometimes, when experiencing our hardest physical and emotional stress, we rise the highest in our spiritual experience. Many blessings have been passed on to God's people through the hard times David experienced.
When Saul called the priests from Nob to come to Gibeah because of the resentful report of Doeg, the Edomite, Saul's mental and emotional state was such that he unleashed a terrible vengeance on the priests, all the people of Nob, and even on the animals. He did to the people of God what he was supposed to do to the enemies of God, the Amalekites. They were idolaters of the worst kind and were enemies of God. He cut off the last tie with God the people of Israel had. The absolute evil of this act reveals what his heart was inwardly like toward God and His people. Sometimes, pressure against those who seem quite alright outwardly reveals what they are inwardly, and "the dirt gushes out." Only Abiathar escaped to where David was and became the priest during David's reign.
The traitor, Doeg the Edomite, did to the people of God the bidding of one who was under the domination of sin and Satan. A person may hold a position of trust in the world, but if there is no fear of God and only a desire to cater to and please the flesh, that person should never be trusted, nor should their counsel be accepted by those who follow the Lord. When wolves come among the sheep, it is the sheep that die.
God allowed evil to come on His people to teach them that when they get what they want, they have to accept the consequences that go with it. If what they want is not what God wants, evil will flourish. God has not promised to abolish all the evil men have brought on themselves with their willful actions. We have, as a nation, removed God from schools, government, our holidays, our homes, our families, and, in many places, our churches. "Up with man!" is the big momentum now, and lawlessness and evil prevail. When God's word is thrown out, authority, righteous rule, and spiritual service are destroyed, and evil gets worse and worse.
Sometimes, it’s out in the open where everyone can see. At other times, the danger evil brings is subtle, plotting carefully against the object of jealousy or hatred. The only safeguard is having close fellowship with the One who knows what will happen next. He who knows the end from the beginning is the One who will protect and defend those who put their trust in Him.
The danger comes in different ways, and it often wears disguises—the evil one plans to seem friendly first before carrying out evil intentions. Watch out for the smile that seems too big or words that seem too smooth. Those are ways an enemy seeks to disarm a guileless person before they destroy them, and then they think they can disprove the work of God.
The safeguard that we can always count on is the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ. He tells us to abide in Him and fear not the god of this world. Resist the devil, and he will flee; draw near to God, and He will draw near to us. Under the authority of Jesus’ name, there is power to be strong in the Lord and the power of His might. Those who walk righteously with Him remove all reason to blame. There are those around us who seek to destroy the work of God and promote the works of the world, the flesh, and the devil. If they can turn aside Christians from following the word of God and living by faith, there is no telling what they will say or do. Abiding in Christ is our only safety from the charges of these enemies. There is divine protection when following Him and the cross we take.
In times of outward danger, we usually can take our stand, but when danger comes from within, we dare not look at others. We must begin with ourselves if the danger is personal. Responsible leaders will turn to the Lord and seek divine wisdom to deal with internal danger if it is in an assembly. The needed safety that comes from God alone will solve internal and external challenges. Abide closely and safely with the Lord; He’ll see you safely at home.
Where the Prophet, Priest, and King are, the people of God can find refuge, spiritual food, sweet fellowship, divine comfort, and safety. There, we can join with our Lord Jesus Christ, our David, in the place of His temporary rejection and wait until the crowning day comes. We can testify to His honor, worth, and glory during His rejection.