Safety in the Wilderness

These were troubling times for David, future King of Israel. He was a wanted man, hunted by King Saul like a criminal. David was on the run, seeking a place of safety where he could lay low until things cooled down, until he could formulate a plan of action.

Adullam...where...all who were down on their luck came. (1 Samuel 22:1-2 TM)

This is a particularly meaningful reading for me today, perhaps for you as well. We have all spent time hiding out in the wilderness and running from the enemy. David didn't choose wilderness living, he had nowhere else to go when Saul isolated him from his family, ended his military career and banned him from the palace.

The wilderness experience starts out with feelings of disconnection and isolation, and usually get worse before it gets better. Someone who seeks safety from hurt or pain, one who runs from rejection and loss, feel the need to escape, to run anywhere that refuge might be found. In David's case it was to the cave of Adullam, where he turned back to God. Adullam means a place of refuge.

Following my husband's death, I experienced a season of wilderness living.  It was during this season, when I left the home we shared for so many years and moved 700 miles away. I first read about David's escape to Adullam and felt a real connection to this story. In fact, a friend told me she saw the word, 'refuge' when ever I would speak of my new home.

What are you running from?  Are you in a wilderness where you are seeking safety or security? Read more about this time in David's life and just see if perhaps God isn't providing a safe-haven for you too. There is much more to me said on this topic, but just maybe we need to take this in first; consider your wilderness and make the most of it.

1 Samuel 21:10-22:5

Romans 15:1-4

Romans 15:4 (NIV)
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 

Reading is a passion of mine.  There are few things I enjoy more than a hot cup of coffee and a good book.  Books entertain, educate and enthrall, all at the same time.  Getting caught up in a good suspense novel or learning how to accomplish a task I have longed to tackle, are great ways to spend a day.  Many times I will learn a valuable life-lesson from a novel.

It is no wonder that once I discovered the Bible and began reading in the Old Testament, some of the characters who were only names to me before, took on an identity and became real. One of the stories I particularly like are those about David.  When he was on the run from King Saul, befriended by Saul's son Jonathan, the story came alive.

When David took refuge in a cave called Adullam where 400 other men were hiding out, he built his army from this ragtag group of misfits. (1 Samuel 22) There is much to learn from reading, much intrigue and mystery and passion can be found by digging into the Scriptures.  Every story is a fresh lesson to learn, a bright testimony to hear and a new way to live an exciting life.  

Every page turn holds out hope for us to grab on to as we discover new ways to deal with disappointment.  Making Bible reading a regular habit will keep us close to God and pointed in the right direction…”For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

This week I am writing on six favorite verses. Each of these verses God used to speak to me in some way during the first five months of this year.  I would love to hear from each of you, about your favorite verses, and how God used them to show his love in your life. Feel free to comment below or if you prefer, you can email me here.

Read Romans 15:1-4 here

Listen to Romans 15:1-4 here