1 Samuel 22: 1-2 – God wants our availability not just our ability

David fooled the people of Gath by faking insanity. He acted so convincingly that the man who seized and brought him to Achish was rebuked. So from Gath, David now escaped to the cave in Adullam. Saul, as well as the Philistines, were equally dangerous as far as he was concerned. At least now in the cave of Adullam, he could find some relief. Here in the cave, David was said to have written two other Psalms - Psalm 57 and Psalm 142. Both the Psalms conveyed the similar theme of his trust in God and his confidence that God would deliver him. In Psalm 57:2 David interestingly expressed his desire for God to establish His purpose in his life.  Imagine the tough times he was facing, yet instead of murmuring and grumbling, he was crying to God for His will and purpose to be fulfilled in his life. There is a lesson for us to learn. In good times or in bad, our lives are in God’s hand. He has an ultimate plan and desire for our life. So we accept what Paul said to the believers in Thessalonica. He said, “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” Yes, even when the experiences meant ending up all alone in a cave.

Verse 1 also tells us that “…when his brothers and all his father’s household heard of it, they went down there to him.” They came to him to show that they took their stand with David. There could be the possibility that Saul would use them to get at David. We think particularly of his elder brother Eliab who had shown disapproval of the way he spoke concerning Goliath at the Valley of Elah. Even he came to the cave in  Adullam and be reunited with his younger brother.  Verse 2 tells us that before long, 40o others joined him in Adullam. It would have been of greater help had the people who came to him were in better shape. But they were not. They were said to be “in distress, in debt, and were discontented”. The motley crew he had was made up of such people and David became their captain. We will discover later how he was able to shape them into a great force. One key takeaway is this: we should never despise and discourage anyone with a willingness to collaborate with us to advance God’s Kingdom. Don’t just rely on people with extraordinary disposition. Bear in mind that God can take an ordinary but yielded person and transform him for extra-ordinary work. It has been said that God is not looking for a golden or silver vessel but a yielded vessel. It’s not our ability but our availability that He is looking for.  So, avail ourselves to Him!