Part 2 | Don't Skip the Cave
This week, I wanted to do a two-part series on “waiting." The first part was on Saul. You can read it here: The Hardest Gap.
Today, I want to look at two verses on David’s journey of waiting and how it was much different than that of Saul.
“So David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. Soon his brothers and all his other relatives joined him there. Then others began coming—men who were in trouble or in debt or who were just discontented—until David was the captain of about 400 men.” – 1 Samuel 22:1-2 NLT
I love this part of David’s journey. I’ve continued to return to this story many times in my life and have learned some valuable lessons from it. I hope it helps you on whatever journey God has you on.
17 years is a long time.
That’s how long it was between David being anointed King and becoming King. What made it worse is that David was in the cave of Adullum because Saul was trying to kill him! This was David’s chance to take what was rightfully his; and yet, he didn’t do it. He was willing to wait for God’s promotion instead of promoting Himself. Where Saul refused to wait 7 days in our last devotion, David waited 17 years for God to do what God had already anointed Him to be.
Maturity is knowing what God has called you to do and yet waiting patiently on His time. What are you waiting for? What do you need to wait for that you are trying to do in your own strength?
People didn’t move David; only God could do that.
“Men who were in trouble or in debt or who were just discontented.” This doesn’t get spoken about enough. Basically, everyone who was upset with the current administration showed up on David’s doorstep. They all wanted David to be King, but not all for pure reasons. They were more upset with Saul than they were in support of David.
Here is where rubber meets the road. David became a true leader in this season because these 400 misfits would one day become the greatest fighting force the world has ever seen. You can read their exploits in 2 Samuel 23:8-39.
My point is that David took the rejected and shaped them into the most coveted, not because he did what they wanted but because he did what was right. I’ve said it for a long time. It’s not hard to know what the right thing is. It’s just hard to do the right thing. Why? Because of what people will think about it.
God put David in a hard place, but also a safe place.
The cave would become a refuge. A place of waiting and maturing. The place that anointing could mature and that the rough places in David could be knocked off. The place he could fine tune leadership and that patience could be grown.
Don’t skip the cave. Don’t skip the season of ambiguity. Don’t skip the season of darkness, silence, and quiet. It’s in those seasons that the greatest leaders grow. I’ve seen it over and over again. So often, young men and women are in such a hurry to become something that they skip the cave. Don’t do it. God will bring you out when you are ready, but if you will let Him lead you to the cave, you will never regret living there for a season.
The cave needs to be a regular part of your journey. I've been called back to the cave in this season of my life; and for that, I’m happy. In a culture that wants famous leaders, big stages, and massive influence, I believe God is looking for cave dwellers, men and women who aren’t afraid of ambiguity and a return to quiet.
Saul and David: Two very different leaders. One was a king without the anointing, and one learned what it was to have the anointing without the title.
Waiting isn't wasted when God is working in the silence. The cave may feel like a setback, but it's often the very space where God shapes you for what's next. Like David, may we learn to trust God's timing more than our own ambition.
Respond | What is your "cave" right now? In what ways might God be using this season of waiting to shape your character, deepen your faith, or prepare you for what's ahead?
Today, I want to look at two verses on David’s journey of waiting and how it was much different than that of Saul.
“So David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. Soon his brothers and all his other relatives joined him there. Then others began coming—men who were in trouble or in debt or who were just discontented—until David was the captain of about 400 men.” – 1 Samuel 22:1-2 NLT
I love this part of David’s journey. I’ve continued to return to this story many times in my life and have learned some valuable lessons from it. I hope it helps you on whatever journey God has you on.
17 years is a long time.
That’s how long it was between David being anointed King and becoming King. What made it worse is that David was in the cave of Adullum because Saul was trying to kill him! This was David’s chance to take what was rightfully his; and yet, he didn’t do it. He was willing to wait for God’s promotion instead of promoting Himself. Where Saul refused to wait 7 days in our last devotion, David waited 17 years for God to do what God had already anointed Him to be.
Maturity is knowing what God has called you to do and yet waiting patiently on His time. What are you waiting for? What do you need to wait for that you are trying to do in your own strength?
People didn’t move David; only God could do that.
“Men who were in trouble or in debt or who were just discontented.” This doesn’t get spoken about enough. Basically, everyone who was upset with the current administration showed up on David’s doorstep. They all wanted David to be King, but not all for pure reasons. They were more upset with Saul than they were in support of David.
Here is where rubber meets the road. David became a true leader in this season because these 400 misfits would one day become the greatest fighting force the world has ever seen. You can read their exploits in 2 Samuel 23:8-39.
My point is that David took the rejected and shaped them into the most coveted, not because he did what they wanted but because he did what was right. I’ve said it for a long time. It’s not hard to know what the right thing is. It’s just hard to do the right thing. Why? Because of what people will think about it.
God put David in a hard place, but also a safe place.
The cave would become a refuge. A place of waiting and maturing. The place that anointing could mature and that the rough places in David could be knocked off. The place he could fine tune leadership and that patience could be grown.
Don’t skip the cave. Don’t skip the season of ambiguity. Don’t skip the season of darkness, silence, and quiet. It’s in those seasons that the greatest leaders grow. I’ve seen it over and over again. So often, young men and women are in such a hurry to become something that they skip the cave. Don’t do it. God will bring you out when you are ready, but if you will let Him lead you to the cave, you will never regret living there for a season.
The cave needs to be a regular part of your journey. I've been called back to the cave in this season of my life; and for that, I’m happy. In a culture that wants famous leaders, big stages, and massive influence, I believe God is looking for cave dwellers, men and women who aren’t afraid of ambiguity and a return to quiet.
Saul and David: Two very different leaders. One was a king without the anointing, and one learned what it was to have the anointing without the title.
Waiting isn't wasted when God is working in the silence. The cave may feel like a setback, but it's often the very space where God shapes you for what's next. Like David, may we learn to trust God's timing more than our own ambition.
Respond | What is your "cave" right now? In what ways might God be using this season of waiting to shape your character, deepen your faith, or prepare you for what's ahead?
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