Psalm 34—Of David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he left—I Sam. 22:1a

Psalm 57—Of David. When he fled from Saul into the cave

Psalm 142—Of David. When he was in the cave. A prayer

 

Cave Principles—Psalm 57

Cave Principle #1: Caves reveal our true need and God�s care—v. 1.

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

Cave Principle #2: Caves enable God�s purposes to ultimately be seen more clearly—v. 2.

Psalm 57:2—"I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills his purpose for me." (Rom. 8:28)

Cave Principle #3: Caves make visible: God�s Provision; God�s Protection; God�s Presence

Psalm 57:3—"He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me; Selah God sends his love and his faithfulness" (see v. 6b, too).

 

Cave Practices—Psalm 57

(Specific Responses Called For)

1. Honestly state our condition to God—vv. 4,6; 142:2.

2. Seek God�s glory above all things—vv. 5, 11.

3. Be steadfast/focused—v. 7a.

4. Speak to ourselves about praise and then do it—vv. 7b-9 (see Ps. 42:5,11).

5. Recall God�s attributes—vv. 3b,10.

 

Cave Perspectives

(General Observations about Caves)

1. Caves are universally visited—Psalm 34:19.

2. Caves will make us and break us—Psalm 34:18.

3. Cave disciplines need to be maintained. (Disciplines that we begin in the cave to survive, need to continue so we can grow.)—Ps. 34:1-4; 57:5,7-11.

4. Cave experiences need to be written down and/or shared—Ps. 34:11-14.

5. Caves reveal our friends and our enemies. (They take the initiative.)—Ps. 57:4,6; 142:4-7.

I Samuel 21:1b] 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. 2] All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him.

 

• Psalm 142:7] " Set me free from my prison (safe place), that I may praise your name (still times).
• Then the righteous will gather about me (special friends) because of your goodness to me."