David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father's household heard about it, they went down to him there. – 1 Samuel 22:1

 

Today's Scripture Reading (April 20, 2022): 1 Samuel 22

"The church is not a theological classroom. It is a conversion, confession, repentance, reconciliation, forgiveness and sanctification center, where flawed people place their faith in Christ, gather to know and love him better, and learn to love others as he designed." The words belong to Paul David Tripp from his book "Instruments in the Redeemers Hands: People in Need of Change Helping People in Need of Change." It is something in which I have always believed. The church is not what so many people seem to think that it is. It is a gathering of the saints, but only if you consider 'saints' all of those God has redeemed. The Christian Church has never been the gathering of the perfect. I believe my church is perfect most evenings and nights. But it ceases to be perfect whenever I walk in the door. And it is not just me. None of us are perfect, so the gathered church is never a community of the perfect. It is a meeting of the imperfect, who continually stand in need of forgiveness and reconciliation. This is our story, one to which we can all relate.

David knows that he is far from perfect. He has stood in rebellion against God, but what makes him a man after God's own heart is that he was also always willing to admit his sin and ask God for forgiveness and salvation. God is not looking for the perfect; he longs to be in communion with the humble.

David escapes to the cave of Adullam. Adullam means "refuge," and refuge is precisely what David needs. He can't go to his father's house, nor can he return to Saul's palace, where he had formerly made his home. David couldn't go to Jonathan, Samuel, or even to the Tabernacle, the house of the Lord. His enemies would be watching all of those places, hoping that he would show up. And so, he goes to a cave called Adullam, and that cave would become his church. It was his place of confession, repentance, reconciliation, and forgiveness.

It is to this cave that his family comes. It wasn't that long ago that David had found himself in conflict with his brothers, but now they rush to his support. Archaeologists believe that the cave of Adullam was not far from the Valley of Elah, where David had had his battle with the Philistine giant, Goliath. That closeness must have reminded David of the distance he had traveled over the past few years. Once, David had been the hero of the Valley of Elah. Now, in the eyes of the people, he was just another criminal hiding in a cave.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Psalm 57