I. The Cave of Adullam (Justice of the People)
A. Text: I Samuel 22:1-2
(Verse 2) Every one that was
1) In Distress
2) In Debt
3) Discontented
Adullam means ‘refuge.’ This was a city conquered by Joshua in Joshua chapter 12. It was fortified by Rehoboam in II Chronicles 11. It is referred to as the symbols of Israel’s glory in Micah.
It was a city in Canaan that David escaped to in order to hide from King Saul as well as the Philistines. This cave served as the secret headquarters for David and his 400+ men.
The only access to this cave is through a circular opening some seven feet high. Inside there is a narrow, low passage leading to a small cave, from which a winding passage leads to a large room about five-thousand feet in dimensions. Narrow passages branch out and lead to other large rooms, some of which are on lower levels. There is enough room, some say, for accommodating nearly 1000 men at one time.
Have you ever found yourself in distress? How about in debt? Or, have you ever felt discontented? You, too have a place of refuge to run into for safety!
Proverbs 18:10 declares, “The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.”
David cried out, “From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert [secret/undercover] of thy wings”. (Psalm 61:2-4)
Look with me at Psalm 27:1-6
David also wrote: “Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy. Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity: Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words: That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not. They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them? They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep. But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded. So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall flee away. And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of his doing. The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.” (Psalm 64:1-10)
What About Distress?
Romans 8:35 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”
What About Debt?
Philippians 4:19 “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
What About Discontent?
Discontented means ‘bitter/vexed’
Luke 6:17-19 says, “And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases; And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed. And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.”
If you are in distress, remember the Love of Christ!
If you are in debt, remember the Supply of Christ!
If you are feeling discontent, remember the Healing Touch of Christ!
David’s place of refuge, his place of escape was Adullam it was also in the name of the Lord. Our place of escape is also in the name of the Lord.
Paul wrote: “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (Corinthians 10:13)
~ Pastor K.Taylor
