Episode Details

Taking Refuge

1 Samuel 22; Remsen Bible Fellowship; 03/14/2021 

Introduction

The world we live in is not safe. Ever since the entry of sin into the world in Genesis chapter three, the human experience has been characterized by suffering, pain, and ultimately death. We might think that as Christians we are granted some sort of stay or exception in this order of the world, which is precisely the offer of prosperity teachers like Benny Hin or Joyce Meyer or Joel Osteen. You can have your best life now! Healing now, prosperity and material wealth now, just have faith! But of course, this is not the promise of Jesus. Jesus said to his disciples, In this world you will have tribulation (John 16:33).

This expectation of worldly trouble has been a mark of Christianity all the way through. Perhaps you remember John Newton’s line from Amazing Grace, through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come/‘tis grace hath brought me safe thus far/and grace will lead me home. Grace has already brought us through many dangers, toils, and snares-and will continue to do so. Where then, do we turn for such amazing grace? 

If you would, open your bibles to the book of 1 Samuel, chapter 22.

David Learns to Take Refuge in God, v 1-5

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. 

As we pick back up in our story, you will remember that David has been in Gath, because for some reason he thought going to God’s enemies was a good idea. The plan backfires, though, and he ends up pleading insanity. Acish is disgusted by David’s behavior, and thus tosses him from the royal presence, and David is saved. So now, since he is not welcome in Gath, he departs and heads for the cave of Adullam.

And once he arrives in the cave, word of his presence leaks. And this cave then becomes the happening place not only for David’s family (v1), but for every misfit, outcast, and loser in Israel (v2). Not exactly the army David would have drawn up for himself. 

Hey, want to build an army?

Sure-could you give me all of the people in distress, all the people who can’t pay their bills, and all the malcontents?

Nonetheless, this is who David has. And the presence of so many of these folks, along with their willingness to defect to David at a time when everyone knows he is being hunted points to how far Saul’s prominence in Israel had fallen. He’s losing his grip on the kingship. And while he will retain his throne until his death, things will get increasingly worse for him.

In verse three we find David leaving the cave of Adullam, which was in the land of Judah, and heading for Mizpeh in Moab. This might seem strange at first given that he had just been in Philistine country and it hadn’t gone well. Why head to the Moabites? But if we remember on Jesse’s side of the family is a Moabite connection. Who is Jesse’s grandmother and thus David’s great-grandmother? Ruth, the Moabitess (Ruth 4:17-22). So if David is going to take his parents someplace safe, away from Saul, Moab does seem to make sense. But what he does next is head to a mountain stronghold, appar