1 Samuel 22:1-4
So David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. Soon his brothers and all his other relatives joined him there. Then others began coming—men who were in trouble or in debt or who were just discontented—until David was the captain of about 400 men. Later David went to Mizpeh in Moab, where he asked the king, “Please allow my father and mother to live here with you until I know what God is going to do for me.” So David’s parents stayed in Moab with the king during the entire time David was living in his stronghold.
Memorial Day weekend marks the beginning of vacation season. Folk are plotting and planning their getaways. People are making whatever preparations necessary to ensure their holidays are not disrupted with unexpected inconveniences. Rest is important, especially in times of great turmoil, crisis and chaos. It’s natural and normal to want to get away and escape all the drama. But no matter how far you go, you can’t leave you. You can leave everything and everyone else behind, but you still have to deal with you. And there’s no escaping that.
For “normal people” that may not mean much, but for every Child of God that means everything. Somewhere tucked away with your itinerary, luggage, tickets and backpack is your calling. You can never outrun or evade the calling on your life. Somehow or other, while you’re on your trip, God will call on you to shine your light on someone. Do I have a witness? It’s inescapable. You are you wherever you go.
And David found that out in the cave of Adullam. Please note just prior to him taking residence in a cave, David was in the mighty City of Gath. It was a wonderful place but it was a Philistine stronghold and he definitely wasn’t welcomed there. In matter of fact, he pretended to loose his mind while there in hope they would think he was crazy and leave him alone.
Sometimes your true purpose isn’t revealed in comfortable spaces and places. The destiny of David lead him to the least likely place to organize a kingdom. David’s beginning was in a dark, dingy cave. In order for him to experience a promotion, God took him from the palace and placed him in a cave to prepare him for advancement. Only God!
But this is what I love about the heart of David. While he knew he had to endure the rigors of the cave, he understood his parents weren’t up for the challenge. He knew he could handle it, but he sent mom and dad somewhere safe and comfortable. Please understand, everybody can’t go where God is sending you. Folk won’t understand, agree or support you. But when God has prepared a resting place for you, be it ever so humble there’s no place like the will of God. I’m sure mom wanted to stay and dad was insisting he could handle it, but David knew this assignment was his and his alone.
The wonderful thing about this story is God had already identified some 400 followers that needed a safe haven. These people needed a David. David needed an army, and the army needed a captain. God brought them together in a most unusual way. This army propelled David to leadership over all of Israel. All his successes and victories, power, prestige and influence came by way of a cave experience. Had it not been for the cave, there may never have been a David.
The Bible tells us "Do not despise small beginnings" Zechariah 4:10. And that is even if we have to start in a cave.
God bless
