So David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam; and when his brothers and all his father’s household heard of it, they went down there to him. And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him; and he became captain over them.
1 Samuel 22: 1,2
Some thoughts on ministry.
Having escaped from the hands of the Philistines, David fled to the cave of Adullam. He blessed the Lord for “delivering him from all his fears,” but now he was in a barren place with little hope and encouragement. Why was he there? What was he supposed to do? What was the Lord teaching him?
Experiences like this are common in the lives of God’s people. It seems that God has set you aside and that your usefulness is ended. To all outward appearances, your day is over, and opportunities for ministry have been removed. And yet these are the times when God is able to get our attention and to show us Himself. Each time I have been to Adullam, I have developed a greater appreciation for God’s grace toward me as a sinner. And ironically, Adullam is a good place to learn to minister to the needs of others.
Ministry opportunities often come at undesirable times.
David had just escaped from Gath after a less-than-sterling spiritual performance. He probably was looking for a place to just disappear for a while, a place where he could “crawl in a hole” and rest. But that’s not what God had in mind at all. His experience in Gath had taught David some things about God’s faithfulness and goodness and God wanted that truth to be shared with others. (See Psalms 34,56)
God’s pattern is always to teach us so that we can teach others. When we focus exclusively on “my relationship with God,” we neglect the covenantal bonds that unite God’s people. Frankly, ministry opportunities often come when we least desire them. But rather than focus on ourselves, God leads us to focus on the needs of others.
Ministry opportunities are often found in unusual places.
This cave was definitely NOT on the main highway. But once David was there, God began to lead others there also. God is not limited by location. In fact, some of the greatest works He has done have been in out of the way places: Abraham’s tent, Jacob’s ladder, Moses’ bush, Elijah’s mountain, a stable in Bethlehem, Paul in Arabia, John on Patmos… How often He takes His people away from the familiar, from the crowds, in order to show them something about Himself.
So, if you want to find where God is at work, don’t look where the crowd is looking. Look instead for where He has placed His anointed ones because that’s where the action is – that’s where God is looking. (2Chron. 16:9)
Ministry opportunities often involve unexpected people.
Remember that God is the God of the unlikely, the undesirable, the outcast, the wounded, the poor and the foolish. And these were exactly the kind of people God brought to David at Adullam. His brothers – not exactly his strongest support group heretofore – now show up with the rest of the family. More than likely, they fear for their lives since David is now an outlaw. Then there were the distressed, the indebted, the discontented – malcontents every one of them – who show up at his cave door. It reminds you of the church doesn’t it?
God was going to do something special with this ragamuffin crew. And David became their captain, their leader. It was not exactly like being a king, more like being a bandit chief, but David would learn to lead and to minister to the needs of these men.
Ministry opportunities can form unbreakable bonds.
This group at Adullam became the core of David’s army – his “mighty men.” These 400 men followed David all the way to the throne, becoming along the way men who David could trust with his life. There was a mutual loyalty here: they would do virtually anything for David (see 1 Chron. 11: 15-19) and, as a result, David trusted them completely and gave them positions of authority when he became king.
The common experience of ministry forms an esprit de corps and can create unbreakable bonds of friendship. These are the bonds of true spiritual fellowship, and they can be seen among God’s people in many places. When we hold our loyalty to the Lord of first importance, then our love for Him overbears any differences or disagreements.
Ministry opportunities often result in unanticipated responsibilities.
David became their captain, which meant he was responsible not only to lead them in way but also to provide for them and for their families. I’m sure David didn’t come to Adullam with this in mind. Yet it was part of what resulted from this context. David became their leader in every sense of the word and they looked to him to meet their needs.
As I write this, I have recently received a call from a “former” parishioner seeking prayer and spiritual counsel. It has been years since I have been their pastor in any formal sense, but the responsibility of ministry goes on.
May the Lord fill you with His grace to minister to the needs of those around you. And may you find His grace sufficient for your needs as well. It is the road our Savior walked, and we are privileged to follow Him.
0 comments:
Post a Comment