run the race – rtr

Until it was time for David to be sent to Judah, he sought refuge from his attackers, and also from the hairy situation that he found himself in when he attempted to turn-coat for King Achish, the king of the Gath, leader of the Philistines (see 1 Samuel 21:1-15). What makes many readers wonder is just why in the world would David flee into the presence of his former enemies, and to no less offer to serve this king of a foreign nation. The same enemies who defied his nation, his God, this same enemy that God alone empowered him to slay this nation’s ‘mighty’ champion Goliath. By the grace and providence of God, David did escape this situation with his life after a harrowing game of charades, pretending to have lost his mind. As I digress what I aim to ask is if there is a parallel here for us? Attempting to place into our own hands our refuge and escape. What we will find here in this account is just how God is always the one who saves, the one who sets our steps for refuge that empowers and brings about our good and his ultimate glory.

David’s refuge would be the Cave of Adullam, for a season, until the LORD would actualize him here as the mighty man of valor. David just like us dealt with fear, times of impossibility, times where no human hand could bring about peace, protection, and refuge. In this time his true answer was God, the same God who set him apart, chose him, and promised to sustain him. Like us many times, I am sure that it was shortsightedness that led David into some of his fleeing’s into places that God did not intend for him to be. Now at the Cave of Adullam, David had no choice but for solitude. Though this solitude did not last long before others came, we can be sure that God after he positions us, gets us just where he wants us, and meets us in our Adullam.

As we will soon see, God uses seasons of wilderness for grand purposes.

Soon after David’s arrival into the cave many men who’d heard of his presence there came to him. These were despondent men, those who were distressed, in debt, and bitter in soul (See 1 Sam. 22:2). Young David could not have possibly expected this, but here now lie in his care men who had heard of his great heart and honor for the one true God. These men found refuge, fellowship, and encouragement here in the very place that seemed to be the valley of the despondent. This was David’s first role as a leader, he became a commander of these men (about four-hundred), and these same men would later show themselves to be mighty men of valor, no longer being what they entered the cave as. This was a season of waiting on the Lord.

It should surprise no one that God wants us to wait on him. For us to be in prayer on all that we do, never *attempting* to make our own way, seeking him in all that we do, and having the determination to wait on His perfect will for our lives. This is not easy, but it is worth it. As we look back on David we can see that this time in the wilderness further shaped him for kingship. Here he learned to trust God for protection of himself and his people, to allow God to equip him for the next seasons of life, to be ready to act and stand when it was time, and to run the race.

My hope with this message is that those reading would see the power and importance of waiting on the LORD. For those in Christ Jesus, God sees you, he is with you, he knows what you need, and he even knows the desires of your heart (See Psalm 37:4). His plan for your life is much better than anything that you can come up with, whether you are currently in the valley, the wilderness, or on the mountaintops of life, be sure to acknowledge Him in your walk, in all of your ways, and your way will be made straight (See Proverbs 3:6).

Word of the Day: “Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.)

Psalm 27:14