The Cave of Adullam..

The Word of God is an amazing thing! I'm sure you would agree. It's powerful to not only read and experience what is written, but also to understand WHEN it was written, and the contextual circumstances that are tied to those words. The awe in my heart seems to increase exponentially!

One such example is found in Psalm 34. A careful reading of this Psalm will enlighten us to the principles that David discovered while undergoing extreme distress and disaster (i.e. the Cave of Adullam). These principles will prove to be a way out of personal and corporate chaos. I'm sure we all could use that key every now and then! Let's Observe:

What is the Cave of Adullam?

The context of this natural place in the Old Testament is one of great misery and strife. This cave is the place where David fled to when he ran from Saul, who was trying to kill him. Saul was stirred to extreme jealousy over David's successes and wanted him dead. At the cave, there met him many like-minded people: "everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men" (1 Sam 22:2).

It took David years to make it to the "top", yet he hit rock bottom in a matter of days! Hiding in the cave with other people who were in trouble with Saul, separated from his wife and home, responsible for the death of the priests who helped him (1 Sam 22:18-22), and having just lived one the biggest lies of his life (1 Sam 21:13-15), David would not have been very elevated emotionally. Because of him, Samuel's life was in jeopardy. Because of him, his father and brothers were in danger. This had to be the low point of David's life. He had blown it because he responded to fear rather than faith.

Despite this dark and dismal new found existence, David yet found a way out! Laid up in his heart was the means of escape! And not just for him, but for the many men present with him too. These men would later become "David's mighty men". But how can such a transformation take place? How grateful I am that he chose to share it with us! "Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come" (1 Cor 10:11; Rom 15:4).

What should be our response?

We can read of his thoughts in Psalm 34. This Psalm was written from the Cave of Adullam, in the very midst of David's many distress. Within this Psalm, there are at least 7 principles set forth to describe to us the methods of escaping our spiritual Cave of Adullam and entering into God's rescue plan. It would do us well to take heed:

(1) Ps 34:1 "I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth."

The men with David most likely wanted to hear all the valiant stories of his defeat over Goliath. Rather than build himself up, however, David chose to set his eyes (and theirs) upon Jesus! I will bless the Lord at all times. Now wasn't the time to sing forth intellectual or psychological praises; it was time to worship in Spirit and in truth! The Hebrew word here for "bless" literally means, "active adoration". David turned his fears of what might be (Saul) to his faith in what now is (Jesus). Likewise, Christians who want to escape the trap of negative emotions need to learn to do just this: bless the Lord at ALL times, despite how we may feel. While no one wants to be a hypocrite, it's not hypocrisy to worship in spite of yourself and your emotions - that's called maturity!

(2) Ps 34:2 "My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad."

The word for "boast" here means, "to have a celebration". Not only was David going to set his eyes upon Jesus personally, he was going to have a celebration publicly! He wasn't only concerned with his own issues and insecurities (vs. 1), he also was concerned for those who had joined with him (vs. 2).

(3) Ps 34:3 "O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together."

The word here for "magnify" means, "to lift up; to bring up". David uses this same word in Ps 69:30 when he says, "I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving." You might be wondering, "how can we make God any bigger?" Well, we can't. However, we can bring Him nearer and into greater focus. Similarly how binoculars work: They do not physically enlarge the object in view; they simply make it seem larger and closer; it is magnified. They also bring the object into clear focus. I'm sure we all could use some Holy Spirit binoculars! Are you trying to escape a spiritual Adullam today? Then magnify the Lord with me!

(4) Ps 34:4 "I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears."

The word here for "sought" really has no English translation. It's an action word that denotes "pursuing until the goal is reached". Too many of us are casual about finding the Lord in our difficulties. We go in and out, seeking Him with our mere minds, and often carnally. However, to escape this spiritual Adullam, we need to discipline ourselves to seek Him until we find Him. We should possess the attitude that we're running to God, not from our circumstance.

(5) Ps 34:5 "They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed."

The word here for "look" means, "to regard with pleasure". It's sometimes translated "to flow". Once we are able to see passed our own selves and regard with pleasure the One we are beholding, all of our natural issues will wash away. From this position of intimacy, David lost all the shame that his many failures had produced in him.

(6) Ps 34:6 "This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles."

We're almost out of natural misery! The Cave of Adullam is slowly disintegrating! What did David do next? He "cried" unto God. This Hebrew word literally means, "to accost with your voice". There are times in our sadness and strife when all we need to do is set aside our religious ways of regression, and accost the Lord Jesus with our praises and petition. And what is the fruit of such?

(7) Ps 34:7 "The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them."

David was delivered out his troubles and disaster when his praises got Jesus' attention. The result of his communication was, "and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles... The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them". Amen! Friend, it is no different with us.

David found his way out of fear and failure, and so can we. His fruitful reaction to trouble was the effect of a sensitive and loving heart after God. He was not alone either! The many men that were present with him later became "David's might men". What a transformation that simple obedience and faith will enable! Amen.