Jeremy L. Berg

This week in our “David” series, David in the wilderness and on the run, pursued by a crazed King Saul who has twice tried to “pin him to the wall” with his spear. He finds refuge in a couple caves that I want to explore together.

While I’ve never been chased into a literal cave by a sword swinging enemy, I have spent my share of nights in other kinds of caves. How about you?

Caves have both positive and negative connotations. On the one hand, caves can be dark and damp, cold and scary places inhabited by bats and bears and other glowing yellow-eyed creatures of the night.

On the other hand, caves provide a safe hideout, shelter from the elements, temporary lodging in the wilderness, a dry place to gather around a warm fire and ride out the storm. I am heading to a Tree House Bed & Breakfast next week for a couple nights of solo-retreat, and in this will be a kind of luxury cave experience where I hope to have a rich experience with God.

On the run, David escaped to the so-called cave of Adullam in 1 Samuel 22. We have only a few verses describing this cave experience, but it is a fascinating description.

David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their commander. About four hundred men were with him … But the prophet Gad said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold. Go into the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hereth. (1 Samuel 22:1-5)

One wonders what was going through David’s mind as he lived in a cave as a refugee among a growing rabble of discontents. A few thoughts on his cave experience:

Was he beginning to doubt he was God’s truly anointed future king? Had God changed his mind? Had God abandoned him? Why would God allow his anointed one to experience such hardship and injustice? Here’s a great song by Sara Groves on this.

Thankfully, David was not alone in his cave of confusion. Crowds of distressed and discontented people saw an advocate and leader in David, and banded together in solidarity there. This is another way David foreshadows the more famous Son of David, Jesus, who would attract crowds of desperate and discontented outcasts weighed down by tax debt to the oppressive Roman administration, and a sin-debt Jesus came to pay.

Maybe you’re experiencing your own sense of dislocation these days, feeling a sense of spiritual, relational, emotional, or political “exile.” You may need to spend some time in your own Cave of Adullam. I urge you to make the most of your cave experience, to find a community in the wilderness, to learn the hard lessons of the cave and even let the cave be the birthplace of something new. (The savior was born in a cave just miles from Adullam!)

Here are a few further considerations from

According to BibleHub.com, the narrative of the Cave of Adullam highlights several spiritual and theological themes to consider today:

· Refuge and Deliverance: The cave symbolizes a place of refuge and divine deliverance. Despite being pursued by Saul, David finds safety and begins to build a community of support. This reflects the biblical theme of God providing sanctuary and protection for His chosen ones.

· Leadership and Transformation: David’s time in the cave is transformative. He emerges as a leader who attracts and inspires those in distress. This period of adversity shapes his character and prepares him for future kingship.

· Community and Fellowship: The gathering of diverse individuals at Adullam illustrates the power of community and fellowship. It underscores the biblical principle that God often works through unlikely and humble beginnings to accomplish His purposes.

Join us this Sunday evening at 5pm for our MainStreet Covenant gathering as we discuss this and one more challenging cave David found himself inside in his wanderings.