Rich in Faith
“Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?” (James 2:5)
— Gleaned from Bible Study Monthly
In the Old Testament, our Heavenly Father provided many pictures to illustrate truths mentioned in the New Testament; we find the particular truth of our theme text illustrated by the life and experiences of David and his men in the cave of Adullam.
When David was forced to leave Saul’s house, he went into the wilderness and selected a considerable cave to dwell in. Then he gathered a faithful company from all the tribes of Israel, who shared his trials and experiences as an outcast, a fugitive while in the cave of Adullam, and later they shared with him his glory when he became king. These experiences of David, between his rejection by Saul and when he became king, may represent the entire Gospel Age. It is the period during which our Lord has been gathering out a little band, not only from all the tribes of Israel, but from every kindred, tongue, and nation. They are called to follow him through difficult experiences. When he is the recognized king over all the world, they are promised a place on his throne.
David’s Band of Men
Who were the men drawn to David, and what were their characteristics? 1 Samuel 22:1‑2 says that his brethren and all his father’s house went thither to him and every one that was discontented, and he became captain over them. Ties of relationship drew some, others by admiration of David and his character, but the majority were drawn by personal trouble. Some were distressed, some in debt, and came to David to escape from their oppressors and creditors. Others came under Saul’s wrath, as had David himself, and came to David by way of escape, while some were discontented on account of the tyranny and oppression of Saul, and so came to David. From some viewpoints they were not at all a desirable band.
This turns our minds to the company the Lord is selecting and reminds us of the Apostle’s words: “Not many wise, not many noble are called. Hath not God chosen the poor of this world?” Some have been drawn to him because of their great love for him, others by an appreciation of his great sacrifice, but many by personal affliction and trouble. Worn out by the trials and hardships of the world, we sought rest; discontented with the oppression and tyranny of the god of this world, we came to the Lord and can now say: “Jesus has satisfied, Jesus is mine.” Perhaps on account of mental difficulties or the loss of loved ones, we sought rest, and were drawn to the Lord.
When these men came to David, they found no challenging demands laid down before they could enter into the company. Any might go to him; he set no age limit, no standard of fitness. Some were indeed strong, mighty men; others were men of weakness, so weak that on some occasions they had to be left behind as unfit to stand the fatigues with the rest of the band. David did not pry into their past life; some had been noble, fine characters, others ignoble, but David was willing to let bygones be bygones; only two simple conditions were laid down, viz., Do you accept David as your deliverer, do you believe he can deliver you from your oppressors and Saul? Do you accept David as your leader, and are you willing to follow him wherever he leads? It will cost you something; you will need to be, as David is, an outcast, a fugitive. You will come under the scorn of Israel. Are you willing to share his outcast experiences? These conditions were accepted by David’s followers, as is shown by their exclamation, “Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse.’’
During this age those following the Lord likewise find no challenging conditions laid down; he places no age limit. Some come and give their entire life to him in their youth, but others come after having spent most of their life pursuing worldly hopes, pleasures and aims; yet the Lord accepts both. He also places no standard of fitness. Some have many talents while others feel they have nothing. Jesus does not pry into the past life of those who would become his disciples. Some have spent their lives serving others, and others have been ignoble and selfish, but the Lord is willing to say, “The past is under the blood.” There are two conditions: Do you accept Jesus as your Savior and do you believe he can deliver you? Do you accept him as your leader; are you willing to follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth? Sit down and count the cost, for it will cost you something; it will mean standing for unpopular truth and going unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
New Experiences
When these men came to David, they entered into entirely new experiences. Old things passed away and all things became new. All would not run smoothly in the cave; they would have many trials to meet. They had come to David to escape trials but they found trials in the cave. There were men from all the tribes of Israel, varying in habits and temperament. They were all men of grit, or they dare not have joined themselves with David. They were all forced to live together in a cave, and their weaknesses would become apparent to each other, and their ideas would often clash. There would undoubtedly be many difficulties in that cave; they would often rub one another wrong. One thing, however, would tend to bind them together: the desire of their leader that they should live together as one family, and gradually, that desire of David began to soften their disagreements.
We have similar experiences; the Lord has drawn his people from every kingdom, nation, and tongue. He knew full well that there would be little differences cropping up, that we would be inclined to view things from different standpoints, and that there would be differences of opinion. Still, our Leader desires that we endeavor to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. It will take some effort, but we remember our Lord’s prayer, “Father, I pray that they whom thou hast given me may be one, as we are one.” We know that our love for the brethren measures our love for the Lord, and we must endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit. We cannot countenance revolution in the cave. The Lord will measure our love for him by our desire to live in peace, but what can do to keep this spirit of peace?
When the children of Israel murmured on account of the report brought back by the spies sent to view the land of Canaan, Caleb was able to “still the people before Moses” (Numbers 13:30), and the secret of Caleb’s power is given in Numbers 14:24: “But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully.” He had the spirit, not of strife, but of peace, and the secret of his great influence lay in the fact that he followed God wholly. If we would preserve the spirit of unity, we must not have the spirit of strife and agitation, and we must obey God fully.
Blessings of the New Way
However, the experiences of David’s followers would not all be trying; they also had blessings. They came under the influence of David’s life, and his life was one of devotion. He was a godly man, a man of prayer, very often pouring out his soul in prayer to God; and he was a man of praise. Often he would take up his harp in tuneful praise. How this would soften their harshness. David was so skillful on the harp that when, before his Adullam experiences, he played before Saul, the evil spirits that possessed Saul left him. He delighted to meditate on the law given to Israel through Moses, and probably would often call his followers and read to them from the law (see Psalms 34:11).
On two occasions he could have killed Saul, but he refused to lift his hand against the Lord’s anointed, for he had implicit trust in God. His influence must have worked wonders on the hearts of his rough followers, as is shown by the testimony paid to them by Nabal’s men. They had been tending Nabal’s sheep, and the record is: “The men were very good unto us, and we were not hurt, neither missed we any thing as long as we were conversant with them. … They were a wall unto us, both by night and day” (1 Samuel 25:15‑16). What a splendid tribute to this company, who, before they had come under David’s influence, would have robbed and plundered whenever possible.
As with these men, so with the followers of the Lord. We come under entirely new influences, under the influence of the holy Spirit, under the influence of the mind of the Master. Jesus gathers us to him to instruct us. “Where two or three are gathered together … there I am in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20).
A Place of Safety and Rest
These men also entered into a new security. The name Adullam means resting place. The cave was situated six miles southwest of Bethlehem, and to reach it, one had to pass along a narrow path along the side of a precipice. On one side was a rocky gorge, and high, towering rocks were on the other. Then one entered a crevice leading sheer into the face of the rock, which was so low that it was impossible to stand upright; one must enter with a crouched attitude. Saul was powerless against David and his men in the cave, no matter how large an army he brought against them. They had to pass in single file along the narrow path leading along the mountainside one at a time into what appeared to be a pitch-dark hole in the rock, but David and his men had the advantage of looking towards the light and could see each one as he entered. They were quite secure; Only in the daytime dare Saul attack them, and at night they went down into the neighboring villages for supplies.
This represents another blessing in our Adullam life. We have entered into a new security; “Our life is hid with Christ in God,” and no power in the universe can hurt the spiritual life of a Christian; none can pluck us out of his hand (John 10:28-29). If our faith were as strong as our security is good, we should never be afraid (Psalms 27:1).
King David Remembers
Another phase of the life of David and his followers is given in 1 Chronicles 11:3. David is now anointed king over Israel, no longer an Nabal’s sheep outcast with but 600 men, but thousands flock to his side. It is now popular to be one of David’s followers (1 Chronicles 12:23-40). What now becomes of the faithful six hundred? Are they forgotten now that David has so many? No, the time has now come for them to be specially remembered. They shared in David’s trials, now they are to share in his honor. 1 Chronicles 11:11 to 12:22 tell of his faithful Adullam band.
We know we are about to enter the greatest change the world has ever experienced; soon, it will become popular to be on the Lord’s side. All will then want to give themselves in full consecration, but the opportunity of becoming heirs of the Kingdom will be forever gone. Only those who share with Jesus in his Adullam experiences can hope to have a place on the honors list of the Kingdom. Those who would share with him in his Kingdom must go with him without the camp, bearing his reproach. “No cross, no crown” (Matthew 19:28‑29). The honors list is already partially written, and it is interesting to see the names written there, and the great deeds that have won them distinction. There is Stephen, a man full of faith and the holy Spirit. When his persecutors came against him, he saw “Jesus standing on the right hand of God.” He also prayed: “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.” Colossians 4 records several faithful saints who have found a place on the honors list; verse 12 mentions Epaphras, an invalid, who labored “fervently for you in prayers.” Romans 16:3 mentions “Priscilla and Aquila” who “laid down their own necks” for Paul. Among others mentioned in this chapter are “Rufus … and his mother and mine.” Rufus’ mother had a warm place in the Apostle’s heart, as he referred to her as his mother. This honors list will one day be published around the world. They will learn that such a one is born in Zion and the Highest Himself has established them. There are still some vacant places at the foot of the honors list; will our names be there? Are we following in his Adullam footsteps? If so, the Lord will undoubtedly record our names there. “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” The matter now rests with ourselves. We must give all diligence to make our calling and election sure, remembering that God hath chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom, which He hath promised to them that love him.