The Cave, the Stronghold, and the Forest ( A Series by brother Joel)

Our topics will be drawn from the book of 1 Samuel 22:1-5.
" David left Gath and escaped to the CAVE of Adullam. When his brothers and his mother's house hold heard about it,they went down to him there...four hundred men were with him...they stayed with him as long as David was in the STRONGHOLD...but the prophet of Gad said to David,"Do not stay in the STRONGHOLD.Go to the land of Judah.So David left and went to the FOREST of Hereth. (3) major places, namely, a cave, a stronghold, and a forest." (NIV)
Many lessons can be learned from these above verses, however, i will limit my self to the lessons i have learned from three major places which David moved to and from, namely,
the cave of Adullam,
the stronghold in Moab, and
the Forest of Hereth.
I believe anyone reading this article is experiencing the cave experience or stronghold experience if not the forest experience.

The Cave. 1 Samuel 22:1-2

We all know even by the living standard of the time of David, living in caves was not desirable and in most cases very unpleasant . Beasts and bandits embedded themselves there, and humans found shelter only in times of calamities. According to Wikipedia the soldiers in rebellion regrouped or plotted,usually after defeat, their attacks to topple the reigning king. One thing was common to all people was the fact that other pressures beyond their abilities left them with no choice but to live in caves. In case of David it was king Saul who had put a price on his head.
It is common for us to find ourselves in a cave. It can be anything, a job, a school, a hospital,a home, a region, a state of luck etc. People (family, employer, spouse, enemies, governments) can cause one to end up in a cave. Sickness also do confine one to a hospital bed, poverty will make people live in a neighborhood,school, city, county even country they do not like. The common feeling there is the feeling of being trapped.
The Caves of our own making:
Addictions to prescription drugs,illicit drugs, alcohol, lust for -money,women/men (pornography),power, gambling to mention a few can leave us in a cave.
Demonic. It was the forces of evil that possessed, controlled and tormented the man/men of Gerasenes (Mark 5;1-5) as the result tombs and a grave yard became his/their cave.

Have you been in a cave? Are you in a cave right now? Do you feel cornered and no way out? I have been there multiple times. I have been hopelessly trapped with alcohol and ensnared by sin!! I had to do something.I asked for help from God and the brethren and i was set free. I got out of my cave. You may need just to fast, ask for prayer help from other brethren, attend meetings( support groups - i find Cerebrate Recovery most helpful), men or women groups getting a person who will hold you accountable in the area of your weakness, joining a Spirit filled church, getting more information and deeper understanding in regard to your situation, and last but not least financial faithfulness to God- tithing and giving will most likely help you get out of your cave. Do not carry your struggles alone. Find help and don't even procrastinate to the next minute, God loves you and cares for you, just trust Him and swallow your pride and seek for help.
It has to be stressed that God never use sin to teach His children. He has the Bible which is more than enough to make us wise and righteous. However, He makes miracles out of the worst life, sin, mistake, fall, or whatever it may be as long as one turns that life to Him. You will be surprised as to how God will use that which kept you in the cave, of our own making, to do His will and to the your own advantage. He is a good God!


God Cave:
While the above samples of caves are important, and will cover them in detail in the right time and place, i would like for us turn our attention to the cave that is ordained by God. This is where i would like to spend more time because a believer can not do anything in order to get himself out of this cave. He/she has to stay there until God comes down to move him out...(to be continued next week)