1 Samuel 22:1-2 (NLT): “So David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. Soon his brothers and all his other relatives joined him there. Then others began coming—men who were in trouble or in debt or who were just discontented—until David was the captain of about 400 men.”

David was anointed king. The only problem was he wasn’t appointed king yet. David was on the run from King Saul, Just received provision and direction from Ahimelech (priest).

GOD CAN MEET YOU RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE (V. 1): “David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam.” Running and Hiding is and of Itself a Prison: A Cave!!!

You may run and hide feeling discouraged, abandoned or stranded. But God is still present in the midst of all your situations. He Can Turn your prison into a place of preparation.

GOD CAN TURN YOUR CRISIS INTO A CALLING (V.1): “So when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him.” It’s amazing to see family and community gather in difficult times. Prov. 17:17: “Brothers are Born for Adversity.” What seems like isolation can become the birthplace of loyalty and deep relationships. Crisis calls to the caring and compassionate in life.

Your help comes from above, then from everywhere.

GOD OFTEN CALLS THE DISTRESSED, INDEPTED AND DISCONTENTED (V. 2): “Everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him.” The people who came were not the strong, the rich, or the successful. They were the wounded, the weak, the discouraged, the indebted — the outsiders. God is a master at turning the least into leaders, the mess into a message.

GOD WILL RAISE UP LEADERS FROM ADVERSITY (V. 2): “So he became captain over them; and there were about four hundred men with him.” David didn’t wait for a perfect team; he led with what he had. From this group, a powerful army and a new era arose. Your greatest assignment often comes through adversity.