After David’s narrow escape from the Philistines, he disappeared into a region of forest and caves between Gath and Bethlehem. Word got back to David’s family and they came over to be with him. He also attracted a ragtag band of people who were in distress, in debt, and generally discontented, about four hundred men in all.

Eventually, David also got more amazing volunteers from the tribes of Gad and Benjamin, and God built David’s army.

David’s Prayer Life

David was on his way to becoming Israel’s greatest king, but he was still very young and on a steep learning curve. Imagine being David: You are told you’re going to be the next king of Israel and then, suddenly you’re invited by the current King to serve in his court.

At first the King likes you a lot. He teaches you about warfare, promotes you as an officer, and gives you major responsibilities. God gives you success in everything you do and everyone admires you. It’s a smooth path to the top – perfect preparation for taking over the throne.

Then the King becomes jealous, turns on you and wants to destroy you. He issues orders to kill you and you run for your life, ending up in a cave in a remote region. People start showing up wanting you to lead them. Some of them are family, others are unhappy with the King, and still others may be spies for him.

Your dilemma is what to do next with the volunteers who show up. Do you march against the King who has threatened your life? Do you lead your new army out to defend Israel?

You need to pray! That’s what David did, and we can see what was going on in David’s heart by looking at how he prayed in the Psalms.

Psalm 57

Psalm 57 is a cry for help with dangerous enemies, “men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.” (Psalm 57:4). David’s enemies spread a net for his feet and weighed him down with distress. They dug a pit for him. David was frightened and amazed by his circumstances and he cried out to God,

“Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.” Psalm 57:1

Even while praying this desperate prayer, David realized that this disaster would pass when the Lord helped him.

“He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me – God sends forth his love and faithfulness.” Psalm 57:3

If you have ever prayed in anguish through a night and toward dawn received an answer from God, you will relate to David’s exuberant words in this Psalm. He felt stronger and he felt like singing!

“My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.” Psalm 57:7-8

David had a great experience of God’s love that night and it filled him with praise.

“For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.” Psalm 57:10-11

Psalm 142

Psalm 142 is a Psalm for someone who feels like they’re in a cave. David was closed in on all sides, sitting in dim light, with a chill running up his spine. He ruminated on his troubles and he only let in a little light from the Lord.

“When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who watch over my way . . . I have no refuge; no one cares for my life. I cry to you, Lord; I say, ‘You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.” Psalm 142:4-5

Then he sinks back down in his troubles.

“I am in desperate need, rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me.” Psalm 142:6

David recognized that he was in a prison in his own mind and that he needed to be set free. Praise was a way to throw open the prison door. Connecting with other people would help, too.

“Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name. Then the righteous will gather about me because of your goodness to me.” Psalm 142:7

Powerful Warriors Join David

A band of fighting men from the tribe of Gad left Saul’s army and joined David while he was in his stronghold at Adullam. And what fighters they were!

“They were brave warriors, ready for battle and able to handle the shield and spear. Their faces were the faces of lions, and they were as swift as gazelles in the mountains.” 1 Chronicles 12:8

The men of Gad were leaders who would help shape David’s brand new recruits into a disciplined fighting force. They were famous for going after enemy invaders during the flood season at the Jordan River and routing them on both sides of the river.

Men from Benjamin and Judah also came to David and he asked them point blank whether they were there to join him or betray him. He told them God was watching to see whether they answered honestly.

“Then the Spirit came on Amasai, chief of the Thirty, and he said: ‘We are yours, David! We are with you, son of Jesse! Success, success to you, and success to those who help you, for your God will help you.’” 1 Chronicles 12:18

David Cares for His Parents

It was apparent that a powerful army was forming around David, so he decided to get his elderly parents to safety. King Saul’s edicts against David made it too dangerous for his family to live in Bethlehem so David took them across the Jordan River and entrusted them to the King of Moab. He kept them in his care as long as David lived in a stronghold.

David and his men had been discovered by this time and a prophet named Gad advised David to leave the caves at Adullam and move into the forest at Herreth.

Saul’s Revenge On the Priests of the Lord

Saul was frustrated by the fact that he hadn’t captured David yet. He complained to his officials that no one cared about him or the trouble David was causing.

Doeg the Edomite saw his chance for self-promotion so he told his story of seeing Ahimelek, the priest at the tabernacle, give David bread and the sword of Goliath. The King sent for all of the priests serving at Nob and accused them of conspiring with David against him. Ahimelek protested his innocence in the matter, but Saul ordered the death of all of the priests that day.

Doeg was the only person willing to carry out Saul’s order and he killed eighty-six priests. Then he went to Nob and destroyed the town, and its people and livestock, as if they were enemies of Israel. It was a terrible desecration of the place where Israel worshiped.

David was appalled when Ahimelek’s only surviving son fled to him and told the story. He wrote another Psalm to work through his feelings.

Psalm 52

Psalm 52 is for those who have really difficult people in their lives. David had Doeg the Edomite in mind when he wrote this and if we read it with Doeg in mind ourselves, we will understand the deep feelings David expressed.

At the end of the Psalm David considered his own conduct and recommitted himself to the Lord. He knew that his people watched him closely so he decided to demonstrate how to put hope in God. This was not the time for revenge or war.

The Town of Keilah

The Philistines attacked the Israelite town of Keilah and David wanted to go and defend it. The Lord urged him to go, but his troops were afraid. They didn’t want to be caught between Saul’s army and the Philistines in battle at Keilah. So David asked God again and God promised that they would win at Keilah.

David’s army inflicted heavy losses on the Philistines and saved the people of Keilah, but then they learned that Saul was on his way to trap them inside the city walls. David asked Abiathar the priest to inquire of God again.

“’Will Saul come down as your servant has heard? Lord, God of Israel, tell your servant.’ And the Lord said, ‘He will.’

“Again David asked, ‘Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men to Saul?’ And the Lord said, ‘They will.’” 1 Samuel 23:11-12

David was learning that it is possible to be in the center of the will of God and still have fearful circumstances to deal with. God proved he was David’s refuge in the midst of it all.

Here is a free app for IPhone that our friend Caroline introduced us to a couple of years ago. It lets you see the locations of these Bible stories on a map of Israel and I use it every day. Check it out!

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/biblemap/id1100364686