[As a fugitive from Saul] David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. Soon his brothers and all his other relatives joined him there. Then others began coming—men who were in distress or in debt or who were just discontented—until David was the captain of about 400 men….
1 Samuel 22:1-2 (NLT)
Jeruziah sent her sons to David at his request, but it took them a while to find him, so Joab wrote his mom after settled in the cave with his uncle
Dear Mother,
As dawn broke, the shadowed veil of mystery surrounding Uncle David’s whereabouts gradually lifted. Our journey to find Uncle David was filled with uncertainties. The rumors we heard about him were unsettling [1], but God guided our steps through the priests at Nob [2] and led us to the Cave of Adullam. We found Uncle David in the company of souls burdened with life’s distress, debts, and discontent. Yet, in that cave, hope blossomed amidst despair, under the gentle guidance of Uncle.
The truth was that when we saw Uncle David, we didn’t recognize him. He had changed. His personality, his disposition, his total being was altered. He talked less. He loved God more. He sang differently. We had never heard these songs before. Some were lovely beyond words, but some could freeze the blood in your veins.
Those who found David and decided to be his fellow fugitives were a sorry, worthless lot: thieves, liars, complainers, fault finders, rebellious men with rebellious hearts. Some were blind with hate for the king and, therefore, for all authority figures. They would have been troublemakers in paradise, if ever they could have gotten in.
David did not lead them. He did not share their attitude. Yet, unsolicited, they began to follow him. Uncle never spoke to them of authority. He never spoke of submission. But every one of them submitted. He laid down no rules. Legalism is not a word found in the vocabulary of fugitives. Nonetheless, they cleaned up their outward lives. Gradually, their inward lives began to change, too.
They didn’t fear submission or authority. They didn’t even think about the topic, much less discuss it. Then why did they follow him? They didn’t, exactly. It was just that he was … well … David. That didn’t need any explanation. And so, for the first time, true kingship had its nativity.
Mother, as I pen down these words, a profound understanding dawns upon me about the essence of divine leadership and devotion. It’s not wielded through authority but earned through love, humility, and an unyielding faith in God.
I urge you to gather our kin and make haste to Adullam. Here, in the wilderness, a kingdom of hearts is taking shape, under the gentle reign of Uncle David. The divine narrative is unfolding, and it beckons for our family to be a part of it.
In love and eager anticipation
Joab
Share with your friends “In what ways does shared struggle help us and our community to heal and to grow?”
[1] 1 Samuel 21:10-15 recorded that David had to resort to act “like a madman, making marks on doors and letting his saliva run down his beard”
[2] 1 Samuel 21:1-9 recorded the encounter between David and the priests at Nob, which cause a masaccre later on in 1 Samuel 22:6-23
[3] Gene Edwards wrote 80% of this from his “Tales of The Three Kings”.
One way I could see struggle helps us and our community to heal & grow is that we were created to be relational so in tough times, we tend to band together as one body and go through the struggle as one community with one goal in mind, and it’s to better ourselves every day. It’s the act of banding together and walking through the trial and fire daily that we sharpen and relate to one another, causing for a much stronger bond among ourselves. It’s times of struggle is when we are the strongest because it pushes us to lean on Christ even more. I pray that we come to Christ for everything in good and bad times, so that we would be able to realize He is the only true God.
“Here, in the wilderness, a kingdom of hearts is taking shape, under the gentle reign of Uncle David.” “the essence of divine leadership and devotion….is not wielded through authority but earned through love, humility, and an unyielding faith in God.”
It’s amazing to see how God works during and uses our time in the wilderness, loneliness, away from the busyness of noise, with only our internal problems to face, with no one to compare and envy with, in a dry place to deal with our own distress, discontent, our own problems. But David didn’t sulk during his time in the wilderness, he didn’t become angry at Saul, at the people who betray him, nor at God. He didn’t join in to complain with the people who are discontented. David didn’t lead these people to stir more problems, adding more fume to the discontented flames. Instead, David “gently reigned” the people that came, humbly loved as they are, and redirect their hearts to trusting in God’s plan and provision. David probably had them sing the psalms and praise God with him! Giving people hope!
God can definitely use our struggles, our times in the wilderness to bring hope and light to others who are going through the same challenges. I think God brought these people to David to help David heal and grow. As David was helping these people, David was healing and growing as well! God is shaping David’s heart to prepare him to be the king after God’s heart.
From Niki
“Here, in the wilderness, a kingdom of hearts is taking shape, under the gentle reign of Uncle David.” “the essence of divine leadership and devotion….is not wielded through authority but earned through love, humility, and an unyielding faith in God.”
It’s amazing to see how God works during and uses our time in the wilderness, loneliness, away from the busyness of noise, with only our internal problems to face, with no one to compare and envy with, in a dry place to deal with our own distress, discontent, our own problems. But David didn’t sulk during his time in the wilderness, he didn’t become angry at Saul, at the people who betray him, nor at God. He didn’t join in to complain with the people who are discontented. David didn’t lead these people to stir more problems, adding more fume to the discontented flames. Instead, David “gently reigned” the people that came, humbly loved as they are, and redirect their hearts to trusting in God’s plan and provision. David probably had them sing the psalms and praise God with him! Giving people hope!
God can definitely use our struggles, our times in the wilderness to bring hope and light to others who are going through the same challenges. I think God brought these people to David to help David heal and grow. As David was helping these people, David was healing and growing as well! God is shaping David’s heart to prepare him to be the king after God’s heart.
I think sharing struggle let’s other brothers and even myself know that I’m not alone. I think a verse that comes to mind is proverb 27:17 as iron sharpens iron so one person sharpens another. And I think suffering and struggle will help a community grow because it also shows people and even myself that the we are all struggling as much as the person who is struggling most.
Having a community to share our burdens with is vital in life. A shared struggle helps a community to grow by building resilience, solidarity, unity and love. With a shared struggle within a community, we are able to help, encourage and lift each other up during these seasons. We are also able to pray for one another, which brings forth healing amongst us. Those who are experiencing the same struggle or grief are able to come together and process what they are going through. This is the beauty of having a community as said in Galatians 6:2: “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
When we have shared struggles it can help us bond and grow in various ways. There is a unique bond in having commonality, especially when that common factor involves strong emotions. A shared struggle can helps us find comfort and solace in one another. It can help us come together to share, process, and find solutions. When we gather and pray to seek God’s wisdom and strength it helps us to connect to God and one another more. We can encourage each other to find rest in God’s goodness and trust His guidance. And in doing so, we can begin to heal.
I think the #1 good thing we get out of sharing our struggles with our community and those around us is that we get to know each other better and have a deeper relationship. By sharing it, we also get to know each other’s thoughts. I think empathy from sharing stories also plays a very important role in the relationship. After sharing, everyone helps each other, which produces better results than if I was to think it through alone. Not only does it deepen the relationship, but I think a lot of good things can really come out of it.
From sister Becky
Who would think our struggles is our greatest asset to help others because we’ve been there and can be empathetic to the others that are in the midst of the same struggles.
Also during our struggles we can ask other to help join our journey so by sharing it will get us to a place where we depend on God together through prayers and can celebrate together when we have victory over the struggles.
God also said to:
“Carry each other’s burdens and so you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)
Suffering seems to be one of the great ways where God’s hands continue to reveal to us our dependence on him and our hope in him, despite our circumstances. God is good to give us the greatest gift he can give us, which is more of himself. Oftentimes he must take something away to help us trust him alone, even if at times it feels like we’ve received a death sentence (2 Corinthians 1:8-11)
(from Vincent)
“Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” James 5:16. I think you hit the nail on the coffin Steve. This group feels like the answer to todays question! Our prayers for one another, and professing our sins/struggles like addiction or physica recovery help us recover spiritually. The empowering feeling of a collective goal unites us and keeps each other accountable. I love everyones encouragement in this group. Thank you guys.