I Samuel 22:1 1 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.

Psalm I cry aloud to the L ORD ; I lift up my voice to the L ORD for mercy. 2 I pour out my complaint before him; before him I tell my trouble. 1 I cry aloud to the L ORD ; I lift up my voice to the L ORD for mercy. 2 I pour out my complaint before him; before him I tell my trouble.

Psalm When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who know my way. In the path where I walk men have hidden a snare for me. 4 Look to my right and see; no one is concerned for me. I have no refuge; no one cares for my life. 3 When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who know my way. In the path where I walk men have hidden a snare for me. 4 Look to my right and see; no one is concerned for me. I have no refuge; no one cares for my life.

Psalm I cry to you, O L ORD ; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.” 6 Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me. 5 I cry to you, O L ORD ; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.” 6 Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me.

7 Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name. Then the righteous will gather about me because of your goodness to me. 7 Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name. Then the righteous will gather about me because of your goodness to me. Psalm 142

Facing Your Giants #

David had been a hero of Israel: Champion of the giant Boy wonder in the King’s army Son-in-law of the King Friend of the King’s son Trainee of the Prophet Samuel

Now he fled leaving behind every earthly security. job wife counselor and mentor best friend even his personal dignity

Every engine of earthly security has failed, until he has nothing left to trust in but God… …so he heads to a cave.

So David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam; (I Samuel 22:1a)

Psalm I cry aloud with my voice to the L ORD ; I make supplication with my voice to the L ORD. 2 I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare my trouble before Him. 3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, You knew my path. In the way where I walk They have hidden a trap for me. 4 Look to the right and see; For there is no one who regards me; There is no escape for me;

No one cares for my soul. 5 I cried out to You, O L ORD ; I said, “You are my refuge, My portion in the land of the living. 6 “Give heed to my cry, For I am brought very low; Deliver me from my persecutors, For they are too strong for me. 7 “Bring my soul out of prison, So that I may give thanks to Your name; The righteous will surround me, For You will deal bountifully with me.”

Notice: “A Maskil of David, when he was in the cave. A prayer.”

"Maskil" refers to a contemplative or didactic (teaching) Psalm. It is meant to give instruction to those who would read it or sing it.

What did David learn in the cave that he wants to teach us?

I. They Show Us Like Nothing Else Can, the Need For Prayer. Why/when do we neglect to pray?

 "We are beginning our final descent. At this moment, in accordance with International Aviation Codes established at Geneva, it is my obligation to inform you that if you believe in God you should commence prayer.“  “No comment”  Same reply many today have when it comes to talking with God.

Listen to David… Psalm I cry aloud with my voice to the L ORD ; I make supplication with my voice to the L ORD. 2 I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare my trouble before Him. 2 Hear the echo from the cave?

II. They Uproot Our Self Sufficient and Independent Spirit. “I can do it myself”

 Perfect 10

It takes only one sin to ruin perfection. Many coast through life never facing that issue. 1 1 Behold, the L ORD ’s hand is not so short that it cannot save; nor is His ear so dull that it cannot hear. 2 But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear. 2 (Is. 59:1-2)

How much of that self- sufficient spirit is in you? Only you and God know.

 The cave helped David realize his mortality: “...my spirit was overwhelmed within me..." (3a) "There is no escape for me..." (4c) “I am brought very low...they are too strong for me." (v.6)

III. They Teach Us To Find Comfort In God's Plans.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)

David acknowledges that God knows it all. Psalm 142:3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, You knew my path. In the way where I walk they have hidden a trap for me.

God knows… God cares… God works it for good.

Practice… Put on your glasses!

37 Who is there who speaks and it comes to pass, unless the L ORD has commanded it? 38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both good and ill go forth? (Lam. 3:37 & 38)

No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. (I Cor. 10:13) He will never allow you to be overwhelmed.

IV. They Help Us See The Value of What We Have and The Need to Be Grateful. "...for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstance I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity...“ (Philippians 4:11-12)

A small, cramped house becomes a mansion for which to praise God to a person who has been homeless.

Henry Ward Beecher once wrote - "If one should give me a dish of sand, and tell me there were particles of iron in it, I might look for them with my clumsy fingers, and be unable to detect them; but let me take a magnet, and sweep through it, and it would draw to itself the most invisible particles. The unthankful heart, like my finger in the sand, discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day, and as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find some heavenly blessings."

Bible commentator Matthew Henry, after being robbed, wrote this in his diary: Let me be thankful first because I was never robbed before. second, because although they took my wallet they did not take my life. third, because although they took my all, it was not much. fourth, because it was I who was robbed, not I who robbed.

 What has the cave done for you? Better yet, for some… “What is the cave doing for you?”

It can teach you to be a person who really prays. GREAT! It can expose self sufficiency and unhealthy independence. ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL! It can teach you to put the weight of your feet on the promises and plans of God. TREMENDOUS! Finally, the cave can create in you a thankful heart and in the process, teach you the secret of contentment. BLESSED!

Maybe rather than complaining about them, the “caves” of life should have us thanking God for them.