Helping While You're Hurting - Pastor Stacey Shiflett

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Helping While You’re Hurting

1 Samuel 22:1-5

Intro: Adullam – justice of the people

It was located in the Valley of Rephaim – means valley of old giants

I. It is a Troubled Place – vs. 2 …and every one…gathered themselves unto him

He was troubled.

David’s past few days had been ones of pain and turmoil, and terrible injustice.

He escaped to the cave of Adullam. (22:1)

He was trying to escape…

A. Fatal Attacks

see 18:11; 19:1; 10 And Saul spake…that they should kill David. (19:1)

This wasn’t just somebody being unkind or rude; they were literally trying to take his life.

They didn’t want him gone; they wanted him dead.

Saul never thought about just sending him back to Jesse’s house.

He wanted him close so he could keep an eye on him, and then promised him a reward while trying to kill him.

B. False Appreciation

18:17-25 But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines

He had done what nobody else would do (fight Goliath) and this was the thanks he got.

They were vocal in their appreciation, but it turned violent.

Jealousy and envy poisoned their gratitude.

C. Forsaking Allies 

20:42 …and he arose and departed; and Jonathan went into the city.

Jonathan had pledged his support. 

He made a covenant to follow and support David (18:3, 4).

He pledged to:

·       Identity with him –gave him his robe, and garments

·       Fight for him – gave his sword and bow

·       Support him – gave his girdle

But he didn’t give him his shoes – a picture of Following him.

Rather, he followed his father and died with him.

D. Fearful Anxiety

21:10 …fled that day for fear of Saul; vs. 12 …and was sore afraid of Achish

His fear affected his Boldness – 21:2 – he lied to the priest to cover his real reason for being there

His fear affected his Behavior – 21:13 he was not himself; he was unrecognizable

The men that came in were troubled

·       They were Distressed – in a strait; literally: in a jam; back is against the wall; no other place to go

·       They were Debtors – they had nothing to give; nothing to contribute; nothing to offer

·       They were Discontent – Hebrew: MAR; root word of MARA: bitter; unhappy; chaffed; angry; heavy (Naomi)

Discontentment is the result of many things.

Sin is the main reason usually.

II. It is a Training Place – vs. 2b …and he became a captain over them

A. Their Capable Director – David, the man after God’s own heart. 

He was capable to lead them.

Notice…

1. David’s Anointing – His Holy Ghost anointing

·       1 Samuel 16:13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward.

2. David’s Ability - His Hands – David was a fighting machine

·       Psalms 144:1 Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:

3. David’s Attitude – His Heart

David’s heart is very clear in vs. 2 and 3. 

He helped those in need; he was concerned for the safety and wellbeing of his family – even when he wasn’t safe. 

His heart was one of selflessness and sacrifice.

He was always making sure those around him were seen about and had every possible advantage to succeed.

B. Common Denominator – everybody had the same issues and struggles; no room for criticism of each other

Everybody may not have had the same exact story, but they all had a past and they had problems!

We need to remember as Christians that we are no better than anybody else in the cave; we need each other.

We should just be thankful for the cave and the others that let us in with our problems and issues; not super-spiritual

C. Committed Dedication – they didn’t get help and then leave go join another cave; or start another cave

They came in broke, but they got to where they could pull their own weight.

They came in distressed, but got to where they enjoyed life and had something to look forward to.

They came in discontented, but they begin to belong together and work together and function together

NOTE: they didn’t stay discontented; and they didn’t blame the captain or the cave for their discontentment.

ILLUSTRATION: Everybody here was discontented at some time or another.

People came here looking for a church because you were discontented.

Lost people were on drugs and alcohol because they were discontented.

It’s wrong to get discontent in the cave and blame the captain for it; you were that way when you got here!

D. Conformable Discipline – they fought with one another; not against one another

There wasn’t a single one of them that David taught to fight that ever swung a sword at him, or those in the cave.

You gotta love that crowd that comes in bleeding, broken, battered and then when they recover, they know more than anybody else in the cave.

You gotta love that crowd that has never used a sword, and now they are experts.

They didn’t come in and learn how to rightfully divide the word of God and then start using it on the Pastor.

They didn’t come in after running for their life and start fighting with the ones that took them in.

They got in, they got on board and they got along; there wasn’t any civil wars recorded in this cave.

III. It is a Trusting Place – vs. 3 …till I know what God will do for me.

A. His Hope was based on the Power of God – Psalm 34 (written in Adullam)

NOTE: Psalm 34 says that David changed his behavior before Abimelech.

However in I Sam. 21 that it was Achish.

Apparently the name “Abimelech” was a title, similar to the title “Pharaoh” used in Egypt.

B. His Hope was based on the Promises of God – 16:12 he had been promised by God to be the next king.

He didn’t know HOW or WHEN, but he knew WHAT God was going to do for him.

God had promised it.

Sometimes, all we have is a promise – we don’t know the details, but we still need to trust him.

C. His Hope was based on the Prospects of God - …till I know what God will do for me

I love verse 5 - And the prophet Gad said unto David, Abide not in the hold; depart, and get thee into the land of Judah. Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hareth.

Conclusion: God let him get out of the hold, and into Judah (praise).

Then he went into the forest of Hareth.

The forest is a place of light, life and growth.

Stark contrast to the cold, damp, dark, rocky cave in the lowlands of the valley.