Adullam's Cave

I am reminded today of what a pastor once called the church planter's theme verse: 1 Sam 22:2. Go meditate on it, esp. if you're a planter!
— Daniel Kirk (@jrdkirk) May 17, 2013

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1 Samuel 22:2
Common English Bible (CEB)
Everyone who was in trouble, in debt, or in desperate circumstances gathered around David, and he became their leader. Approximately four hundred men joined him.

David was a mess. His whole life had been thrown into shambles. He was on the run from King Saul. His life was in jeopardy. He had no sword, no food, and little hope. He had gone from his nation's great hero, to a banished outlaw.

What had happened?

He was tracking extremely well. His skyrocket to stardom had been epic. But, then the fickle king lost his marbles, and David's star fell faster than it rose. The people used to sing his name during street parties. His exploits were lauded and retold around his nation's cook fires. He had been anointed to become the next, chosen King!

He was the ultimate insider. Now, he was a disdained outsider. He had to lie to a priest just to get enough food to survive. He had wandered into the land of the Gentiles, looking for refuge.

He did find refuge, but he found it in a place that even the Gentiles despised - Adullam's Cave. It was, quite literally, a den of thieves. The cave was populated by outlaws, escaped criminals, and people, like David, who were just plain hungry. Adullam's Cave was a place where stories ended. When life took a bad turn, things ended at the Cave. But, not David. David's already remarkable story, was going to begin all over.

As the story goes, four hundred outsiders joined David at the Cave, and found new meaning, new direction. So did David. Under the direction of God, David struck out from the Cave to take what God had annointed him to have. And his outsiders? Those four hundred ruffians, thieves, and outlaws many of them became known as the Mighty Men. The Mighty Men were a band of brothers that became legendary in history for their amazing exploits as the great core of David's revolution.

David's path to the throne went through a den of thieves. The inside track required a group of outsiders.