David could sense the guys were a little nervous as they ventured further into the cave. It was gigantic, and very dark.
“It’s okay,” David assured them. “I’ve been in here lots of times. I’ve had to rescue a few sheep from here. And, I can guarantee there are no bears or lions in here because I’ve killed them all!” They breathed a little easier. Then someone quipped, “Yeah, and now you can add a few giants to the list.” They all laughed.
It wasn’t long before they were all asleep. They needed to rest. But David couldn’t sleep. His mind raced with all the horrible things that King Saul had done and said to him. It was so confusing. David had never meant anything to hurt, offend, or anger Saul. In fact he loved Saul, and his son Jonathan. But now Saul and his whole army were hunting him like animal. The son of Jesse had been branded an outlaw.
“Those who hate me without cause are more than the hairs of my head.” (Ps 69:4)
He tossed and turned. Then his eye caught part of the cave as the torchlight reflected on it. He remembered a song that he had written in the same cave.
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1)
Then a couple more songs came to his mind. He sang them,
“Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in you…” (Psalm 56:3)“…my help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth…” (Psalm 121:2)
His beautiful voice was ringing through the cave now. He was starting to feel much better. Then suddenly the torchlight was put out. The man on watch whispered loudly, “Quiet!”
David worked his way over to the watchman’s post. The watchman pointed toward the entrance of the cave. There was someone there. Reflections off the armor gave away that it was soldier. David and his men watched as the man made his way in to the cave and laid down. In a few moments they could hear him snoring.
As he moved closer to the sleeping soldier, there was now enough light coming from the cave’s entrance that David could make out the man’s clothing. He could tell by the colors of his garments and the ornate embellishments on his armor that this was no ordinary soldier. Then David spotted his sword. He knew immediately who it was, and by this time so did all of the men with him.
“Slit his throat!” one of the them said. David stood staring, then moved closer. He pulled his knife out of its sheave. The men were thrilled as they expected to see Saul killed, but instead David just cut a corner of his rob off.
The guys were totally confused. David quietly moved to the back of the cave. They could hear him talking to himself.
“I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” (Psalm 23:4–5)
David knew God would help and protect him. This was not something that he learned that moment, or that had just occurred to him. He knew that the same God who had watched over him in every other difficult and dangerous situation, in every dark place where the teeth of animals glistened, would watch over him now.
“God took David from the sheepfolds, from following ewes and their lambs, to Shepherding Jacob His people” (PS. 78:71)
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