Tag: Adullam

Captain Over Them

Captain Over Them by Kirk Hunt

David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. So when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him. And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them. And there were about four hundred men with him.

1 Samuel 22:1-2 NKJV
Please also read 1 Samuel 22:1-23

Unjustly accused, and a death warrant issued in his name, David hid in the cave of Adullam. First, his extended family joined him. Then the losers of Israel came. David became a captain or leader to those shunned and despised by everyone else.

With the elite forces of King Saul looking for him, David gained responsibility for the lowest people in Israel. Some would call those same folk liabilities. Deadbeats, troublemakers, and whiners from across Israel came to David for help and support. Instead of a handout, David gave them courage, valor, skill, and expertise.

Perhaps you think your Adullam experience is the end of you. God is instead setting you up for future success. Those sniveling losers need to be transformed into elite champions. And their captain is a king (or queen) in training.

You will have to stay the course. You will train, educate, encourage and discipline men and women everyone else jettisoned. They do not look like much now, but they will be champions after you become God’s captain over them.

Think: God is setting you up as a future king (or queen) by making you a captain now.

Pray: “Lord, help me to minister Your way, in Your Name, here and now.”

Copyright © January 2022, Kirk Hunt

This devotional is brought to you courtesy of CadreMen Press. You can purchase a copy of Blessed and Blessing: Devotionals For Gospel Champions from your favorite bookseller or directly from CadreMen Press.

Elite Humility

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“Elite Humility” by Kirk Hunt

 

And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD.

2 Samuel 23:16 KJV

 

The courage, daring and skill of the three mighty men is clear.  Their devotion to David cannot be questioned.  Still, what to do with their extravagant gift is a quandary.

 

David sacrificed the canteen before God.  Drink offerings were a regular part of the Mosaic Law.  As far as David was concerned, that canteen held fluid more precious than anything the Law required.

 

David’s choice demonstrated something more: David’s humility.  He was humbled by their devotion.  He was humbled by the risks they took.

 

David responded with grateful worship to God, who had sent these champions.  He also responded with self-denial.  He refused to drink the water, as a gift too precious for common use.

 

Only a humble man (or woman) would see past the excitement of the moment.  David’s humility demanded that their gift be consumed by some One worthy.  David demonstrated his character, strength and wisdom by refusing what he wanted so badly.

 

Humility is a sober and measured opinion of your own value.  The bigger you are in God’s Kingdom, the more important your grip on your self-valuation.  David understood the need for humility, and lived it out.  Can you say the same?

 

Think:            Humility is a strength, and grace, for God’s people.

 

Pray:              “Lord, help me to live and serve your Kingdom in humility.”

 

 

Copyright © April 2013, Kirk Hunt

This devotional is a ministry of https://devotionals.cadremenpress.com.

Adullam’s Champions

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“Adullam’s Champions” by Kirk Hunt

 

And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate! And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David:

2 Samuel 23:15–16 KJV

Please also read 2 Samuel 23:8–17

 

Adino, Eleazar and Shammah.  The elite three among David’s forces.  The kind of men to go deep behind enemy lines to get a canteen of water.

 

These are not the same men recruited at Adullam.  They are no longer deadbeats, losers or whiners.  David’s moment of nostalgia and homesickness becomes a chance to display their strength.  And encourage the heart and spirit of their chosen leader.

 

Did these men spring out of the earth, champions?  Scripture does not record that scene.  Instead, Scripture records their act of selflessness and encouragement.

 

God intends for you to become a champion.  Where you start is less important than following His plan for your life.  Your service in His Kingdom is the primary tool to change you.  For the better.

 

Perhaps you already are a champion.  Have you engaged in a heroic effort, just to encourage someone?  Only a champion would unobtrusively schedule a perilous victory for someone else’s benefit.

 

God’s Kingdom is full of opportunities, big and small.  To encourage, bless and build up others in Christ.  His intends for you to be a champion.  Go do your faith hero stuff.

 

Think:            Men and women are made champions in God’s service.

 

Pray:              “Lord, help me to become the champion You intend.”

 

 

Copyright © April 2013, Kirk Hunt

This devotional is a ministry of https://devotionals.cadremenpress.com.

Adullam’s Recruits

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“Adullam’s Recruits” by Kirk Hunt

 

And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.

I Samuel 22:2 KJV

 

David fled to the cave of Adullam, hunted and hated by King Saul.  There, alone and in need of support, David received his recruits.  Oh, joy.

 

There were not the best and the brightest.  They were not even the middling and muted.  The cast-offs of society made their way to David.  Oh, boy.

 

Scripture says they were in distress, or in debt or discontented.  I call them the losers, the deadbeats and the whiners.  Not the usual starting blocks of an elite fighting unit.  Oh, man.

 

Thankfully, the sentence does not end there.  At least they brought themselves.  That hints that they were willing to invest themselves in something.  By coming to and staying at Adullam, they changed.  Oh, well.

 

Davis became their captain.  Clearly, these undesirable men were willing to accept leadership.  Often, a teachable heart alone can help a man advance from where ever he started.  Oh, great.

 

Adullam’s recruits represent the men and women who come to support you in your calling.  They are unfinished and often undesirable, but with God’s help they can become champions.  Oh, okay.

 

Think:            Men and women finish champions in God’s service, no matter how they start.

 

Pray:              “Lord, help me to see Your finished work in my brothers and sisters.”

 

 

Copyright © April 2013, Kirk Hunt

This devotional is a ministry of https://devotionals.cadremenpress.com.