When Jo and I were in college, we were part of a group of about 8-10 who used to do things together. Occasionally, we would head over to Carter Caves State Park (KY) and do what most, if not all, parents would have been appalled at: we “visited” caves. Loosely translated that means we climbed through caves. We were dumb and foolish and reckless. The only equipment we had were baseball caps and flashlights. No ropes. No hardhats with lights. No climbing equipment. We wore jeans, sweatshirts, tennis shoes and not much else. We didn’t even tell people where we were going. We were, literally, a bunch of college students with a big “S” stamped across our forehead. We crawled through caves, holes, water, gunk, bat poop, small spots, large spots, you name it, all in the name of fun and excitement. I can honestly one thing:
YOU. WOULD. NOT. CATCH. ME. DOING. THAT. TODAY. UNDER. ANY. CIRCUMSTANCE!
Professionals call it spelunking. I call it (today) stupid. I think back and wonder How in the world did I do that? Why did I do that? How did I fit through spaces? Bats? You have got to be kidding me.
In real life, caves can be a part of life. Some live in a cave emotionally and spiritually. It is not fun. Some live deeper than others. I have had those times when I felt like I was in a hole, but I know some who spend a long time in their cave.
My sermon Sunday is when David spent some time in a cave. It was called Adullam. He had hit rock bottom. He lost his job, his wife, his home, his counselor, his closest friend, and his self-respect. He was a man on the run. (Yeah, I know you cued that PM song right about now). 
But, the really cool side of this is while David was in a cave (a downside), his cave experience also had an upside. Check out here and here how David felt about the cave. Those are honest emotions. But what he finds out is that God has not abandoned him. I Samuel 22:1 tells us that when his brothers and his father’s household heard about his state of affairs, they went to him. Can you imagine? His brothers? God also brought 400 men to come alongside him.
DAVID FOUND OUT HE WAS NOT ALONE!
And that was huge. Because of these people, David emerged from his cave primed and ready for his task. I don’t believe for a minute he thought it was going to be easy, but I do believe he went at his task with more confidence and strength than before. He emerged from the cave with a greater understanding of God’s mercy and purpose for his life.
Have you ever been in a cave before? How did you deal with it? How did you come out of it? Thanks for praying for us this weekend. Friday is my day off so while I will approve comments, I will not have time to respond immediately. Thanks for commenting though.
Here is the crazy thing about us cave dwellers. Even though we want more than anything to get out and live and be part of the world, and even though we know in which direction the opening to the outside is, we still consistently continue to go deeper. Part of this has to do with embracing what we know, part has to do with fear, part with negative self-feelings, and part is pure B.S. (bull stuff).
Thanks for sharing that Daniel. Since I have not been a cave dweller I needed to know this. Always appreciate your openness.
yep, you know I have been- and I just kept plodding along until I finally climbed my way out.
Oh, and I seem to remember stories about those caves that would answer the why….
Love you- see you soon! (I know you are SUPER excited about that!)
I’m glad to see you out of the cave, as you know. Also looking forward to seeing you Monday. As for the why…well you happen to be a result of the closeness then love the developed in those caves, particularly the bat cave.
Love you much.
Bill, I was in a cave all through high school. My mom had some emotional issues and I was embarassed by it. I wouldn’t bring friends to my house. I didn’t really have other people my age in my life at all. It wasn’t until I got a part-time job and made some friends there that I began to climb out.
Thanks for sharing that Larry. Your testimony is “proof” of the need for friends.
I’ve been in caves too… yes, real ones first. I remember as a high school kid deep inside a mining cave and barely finding a hole that went straight down. We dropped a rock into it and couldn’t hear the rock hit the bottom… then we jumped over it and kept going deeper into the cave… “S” indeed did not stand for Superman…
I’ve also been in spiritual caves. I found that the only way to find a way out of a spiritual cave is to rely on God, otherwise we could spend a life time trapped in a cold, dark, depressing cave…
Nothing better than coming back into the LIght!
Relying on God is exactly where David found himself in Psalm 57. Nothing like the light.
Hi Bill,
For sure we need fellowship with other believers. We need the enouragement, the helps, the exhorataion, the testimony, the friendship that other believers bring into our lives. The spiritual gifts that God gives to men for men. We must be careful though to not place our trust in people (or man). If we do, we are going to be let down and betrayed.
Our trust must be in God and him alone. Where does our help come from? From the Maker of heaven and earth.
The 400 men who came to David in the cave at Adullum were aditional responsibility for David. They had to be fed. He had mens’ lives to protect. He was their leader, he was the one they were looking to. He had to provide good leadership. Where does one put 400 men who are being sought out to be killed by Saul the king?
God was David’s help and Deliverer in the cave. David cried out to God in the Psalms you link for us here. This is pleasing to God. This is a heart that God is looking for. Someone who looks to Him and noone else.
This does not mean that we as believers should not accept help from organizations of the world such as food banks, thrift stores, etc. We should accept help when help comes if we are needing it. Many time these places have foundations that came about because of people’s faith in God. Our food bank in my community
has its roots in the Seventh Day Adventist church.
But if a believer should choose to not accept help from these places for a particular reason that is good also. The believer has his/her reasons. This is honorable too.
There is not doubt that our first line of help must be God. Our second is needing others.
I’ve been in a deep, dark cave & it was not a good place to be. Only by the grace of God and the help of my wonderful husband was I able to climb out & start living. I did not want to come out, my cave, though miserable was comfortable & my way of hiding….I was scared & didn’t like myself. It wasn’t an easy climb out either, prayer & God’s strength helped me take those baby steps out. There are days when I know satan wants to put me back in that cave & I have to immediately stop & call on a verse of scripture & pray so that I do not go back there. I know that cave will always be there, it’s the attitude of my heart which will help me stay out of there. Praying for you this weekend.
you found God to be in the cave with you Jan. Not only was He close but He also gave you someone else (Michael) who was a physical help. Glad you are better.
I lived a good deal of my life in a cave out of fear. I hid from people for fear of what they might think about me. Having recently vacated the cave, I can say that I was able to do that because of a better understanding of who I am with Jesus in me.
Fear is an ugly cave-maker. Glad you found your freedom and Light.
I was in a cave when I went on a missions trip to Mongolia. It was a pretty narrow little entrance, and a lot of the locals said that they thought the cave went back for miles and miles. No one had braved to go far in. Using the flash of my digital camera as a flashlight, we walked about 30 feet in – and came to the end. It was kinda a let-down for everyone
I had never really thought about the upside of David’s cave-experience before. It’s so easy to just move on and not pay attention to the details of the story – but I can imagine how that was very encouraging for David to know that he wasn’t alone.
That would have been a bummer. David’s Psalm 57 shows the encouragement he received.
Spelunking sounds amazing. I had a friend who did that for quite some time and there were always amazing stories to be told.
As a younger man I would have been far more excited about it. But with the joints not being as flexible or as strong, I would have a story to tell but it might not be a good one.
Thanks for coming by Joe.
Never been in a cave before, but it sounds fun. It’s something I have always wanted to do.
It’s great to know God and other people are with us, no matter what we go through.
Praying for you and the service:)
Try it to say you did it. if you don’t like tight spots you may want to bring along some spare underwear.
Thanks for your prayers Dan.