The Cave of Adullam. Lane-Poole, Stanley - Picturesque Palestine, Sinai and Egypt D. Appleton New York 1883
khureitun cave 1880
David and Koinonia
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. All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their commander. About four hundred men were with him. [1 Samuel 22:1-2 NIV]
Apart from Jesus our King, David became Israel's greatest king. God had used David to win an amazing battle against Goliath in the Valley of Elah. But here he is in a desperate situation. Saul is still on the throne even though David has been anointed as the next king. David has been scuttling from one place to another to avoid capture by Saul who is jealous of him and wants to kill him. David had even been so desperate that he crossed into enemy territory in the land of the Philistines. This was no safer than anywhere else and David is on the run again. This time he takes refuge in a cave at a place called Adullam, which was halfway between Gath (the town of Goliath) and Bethlehem (the hometown of David himself). This area had limestone cliffs which provided ample places to shelter and to be hidden from Saul's soldiers scouring the countryside looking for the king's 'enemy.'
This place became a place of koinonia or fellowship for David. He was joined by members of his own family and he did not always have too good a relationship with them [See Day Share David: Left Outside 02/03/2023]. David's family decide to join him in this cave. This was not a social visit - they had become enemies because they were related to David who, because of his fame and popularity, was seen as an enemy of King Saul .
There is a sad list of others who join with David in this cave.
Everyone who was in distress or was suffering hardship
Everyone who was in debt
Everyone who was bitter in soul or who was discontented
In other words, these are the social outcasts who take sides with David, the traitor and enemy of the King. Those who had nothing to lose from their association with a despised man made the decision to throw in their lot with David. The socially respectable prefer to side with the reigning monarch - King Saul. And yet David is able to turn these disaffected people into a powerful army of 400 men who would take on the Philistines as described in chapter 23 of First Samuel. David must have had leadership qualities to inspire such loyalty in his followers. He became their captain and they accepted his orders.
This group had so much in common. That is the basis of this community or koinonia which we have been looking at in recent blogs. They had a common experience of hardship and probably a common enemy. They developed a bond of friendship in their distress. But they could not spend all their time reflecting on the injustice or the misery of their present situation. There is a deeper reason for the success of this motley band. This was a great opportunity for David to reflect on his situation and to get right with God. He had times of seclusion and isolation. The cave was probably a large underground cavern with plenty of small places to be alone with God and to meditate on God's word. David's life had been hectic and now God was saying to him that he needed to rest and recharge his spiritual batteries. Here is a quotation from this writer of a past generation: "If David prayed as much in his palace as he did in his cave, he would never have fallen into the act which brought such misery upon his latter days." [A.W. Pink: The Life of David Kindle Edition]
In the caves at Adullam, David shared his knowledge of God in difficult circumstances with this group and energised them and motivated them for service. This is true leadership and true fellowship. It was because of his close relationship with God and his fellowship with Him, that David was able to inspire and develop a true bond of fellowship in this group.
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