Our Refuge in Suffering (1 Samuel 22:1)

David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam.
—1 Samuel 22:1

Now, the reason I read that first is that I want to lead us to pray according to it, because this cave was likely the place where David wrote Psalm 142 and potentially even other Psalms. And I want to read Psalm 142 just to give us a picture of David’s cry before God, when his life is being threatened, when he’s in the middle of trial, and he is alone. David cries out in Psalm 142 from a cave, likely the cave of Adullam.

“With my voice I cry out to the Lord. With my voice I plead for mercy to the Lord. I pour out my complaint before him. And I tell him I trouble before him.” Now, as I continue reading the Psalm, I just want to make sure you hear these words, particularly if you are feeling alone, if you are feeling attacked, if you are feeling embattled, if you are feeling like there are forces at work against you, or if you are walking through trials; hear these words from David.

1 Samuel 22:1 is a comfort to the hurting and the persecuted.

“When my spirit faints within me, you know my way. In the path where I walk, they’ve hidden a trap for me. Look to the right and see there’s none who takes notice of me, no refuge remains to me, no one cares for my soul. I cry to you, O Lord. I say you are my refuge. You are my portion in the land of the living. Attend to my cry, for I am brought very low. Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me. Bring me out of prison that I may give thanks to your name. The righteous will surround you for you will deal bountifully with me.”

Oh God, I just pray these words over your people, including many who are listening to this podcast episode right now who feel alone, who have been attacked, who are being persecuted, even for those who are being imprisoned. God, I think about our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world right now. I think about some who I know are in prison in Somalia right now. God, we pray. We pray you to help them hear their cries, hear their pleas for mercy, and come to their help. I pray. God, we pray for persecuted brothers and sisters in North Korea, for persecuted brothers and sisters in all kinds of different places around the world, in Afghanistan.

God, we pray that you would help them, hear their cries, and come to their aid. And God, we pray for each other, other brothers and sisters who are walking through trials and tribulations and feel alone, feel bombarded, who look around and feel like there are traps everywhere beside them. God, be their refuge. Be their refuge, their portion in the land of the living. When their spirit faints within them, lead their way. God, deal bountifully with your people as they trust in you in our hard world, filled with all kinds of trials, all kinds of challenges.

With our voices, we cry out to you. Lord, we plead for your mercy, and we praise you for your promise to give it, for your promise to hear our cries and answer according to your glorious riches in Christ Jesus. In his name, we pray. Amen.