Scripture:

“David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him. And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul, gathered to him. And he became commander over them. And there were with him about four hundred men.

And David went from there to Mizpeh of Moab. And he said to the king of Moab, ‘Please let my father and my mother stay with you, till I know what God will do for me.’ And he left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him all the time that David was in the stronghold. Then the prophet Gad said to David, ‘Do not remain in the stronghold; depart, and go into the land of Judah.’ So David departed and went into the forest of Hereth.” 1 Samuel 22: 1-5 (ESV)

Perspective:

David was on the run from Saul. He had gone to the king of Gath to seek refuge, but the king had known of David’s military victories. David then turned to a cave as his place of refuge. In that place of disappointment, people began to gather around him. Interestingly, the people who gathered around him were facing their own difficulties. A group of people with no place to go, and their new leader, David, was on the run. What happened to the promise that God would set David as king? Samuel, the prophet, had anointed David as the next king years before. David wasn’t king yet. And just because he had not been promoted to that position at that time didn’t mean that he wouldn’t become king. He hadn’t gotten there yet. Four hundred men were gathered, and David would lead them. However, the four hundred men would serve as a training ground for the whole nation David would lead one day. As he was trying to figure out where to go, God directed David to the land of Judah. Though the cave seemed like the best place to hide, it was only a temporary place. David’s life and leadership would not be limited to that place and those people. However, the lessons he learned in the cave would prepare him for the kingship that God still had in store for him.

 

You may have experienced a similar season to David. God promised a future blessing, but David looked up to see nothing around him that resembled a palace. It was wet and empty with a bunch of people who had lost their way. You may be looking at your surroundings that resemble nothing for which you had hoped. The season in the cave serves a future purpose when we allow God to give us perspective for that season. The cave is only temporary. Your permanent residence is not in the cave, because God is not finished yet. The fulfillment of the promise is coming. The answer to your prayer is on the way. Don’t lose sight of the future God has for you when your surroundings tell a different story. As we are obedient to God, He will help us overcome disappointment and disillusionment. When we choose to not allow a place of disappointment to be our permanent address, our focus on God is renewed through our obedience. You haven’t gotten “there” yet, because God is using the cave to prepare you for a place and position you couldn’t prearrange on your own.

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

[separator_small separator_width=” thickness=” up=” down=”]

About Hona Amer

I help people live life to the fullest. Check out my book, Smart Work U. Follow me on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. In order to receive updates, subscribe below.

[separator_small separator_width=” thickness=” up=” down=”]