We have all had our share of prisons, pits, deserts, Red Seas and giants. A few weeks ago, I remembered a sermon preached by Ps Atul Haksar on 1 Samuel 22, David's ministry in the cave of Adullam. This remembrance was so sweet to my soul that I spent the entire Saturday reflecting on it.
We could call the cave of Adullam 'The Church of Adullam' or 'Adullam Fellowship' or 'The Ministry of Adullam' because there we see a man of GOD, in the middle of the greatest crisis of his life, facing a life and death situation and yet, somehow, attracting those who were distressed, in debt or discontented.
What was David doing differently? How could a man with his very life on the line, minister to 400 distressed, in debt and discontented men?
When I'm distressed I cry my eyes out. If I were in debt I would have had sleepless nights, been sick with anxiety and over think my tomorrows. And when I am discontent I must but talk about it! Imagine having 400 'mes' in a cave!
The Bible says these 400 men gathered around David and he became their leader. Now that's something. This where I pause, look at a life lived for GOD and get inspired to be a David in my own calling.
I don't think the 400 distressed, in debt and discontented men entered the cave together. May be the fame of David's ministry grew. Just may be, David's ministry began with one distressed guy. And that guy may have invited his friend. And we don't know how long it took for David's church to grow to 400 members. But David was surely doing something that was causing his ministry to grow within this demographic.
If I were in David's place, I would wonder about what was going on. I'd ask the LORD "what's going on LORD, I thought you anointed me to be the King. What am I preaching and counseling for? What...do you want me to be a preacher now??" But David was on the move, heeding the voice of GOD and yielding to GOD in obedience.
I live in a beautiful basement suite in North Vancouver. I live alone. Life is not all that I would want it to be, as yet. And it's so easy to feel caved in. At many times I am attacked by projections that may have paralyzed my capacity to serve GOD by ministering grace and comfort to the distressed, in debt and discontented people placed close to my life. But a child of GOD can't afford sentimentality or frustrated emotional capacities.
Like David, I want my home, my hiding place to be an Adullam, a place where a weary person is refreshed and leaves a mighty warrior. To use my house and my resources and my very life to be about my FATHER's business...
