God Hears Us in the Cave

This summer our church is taking a journey through the Psalms. You can’t read these words without hearing of the wonderful works that God has done. We read of Israel’s miraculous delivery from Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea and God’s provision for them in the wilderness.

In these stories, we see God manifesting Himself to a group of people…a nation whom He has birthed and called out of the nations to bear His name.

God’s blessings for Israel were never for them alone, but it was to them and through them that God would bless the world!! (Genesis 12:1-3)

BUT God is not only interested in nations, He loves and sees the individual!!! 

How often, might we ask, “God, do You see me?  Then why am I in this mess?!”

This is the prayer of David in Psalm 142. 

We are told that David is hiding in a cave. Most likely, this is the time he is running for his life from Saul after being anointed king by Samuel. Can you imagine his thoughts?

“I didn’t pick this life. I was out in the field shepherding flocks when Samuel called me and anointed me as the next king. I was surprised!!! Me?!! Out of all my older brothers? I’m a nobody, just a shepherd. Why did he pick me?!!”

For a while, things were looking good. He was in the palace playing music for the king, had killed a giant, became a national hero, then married the king’s daughter. I mean, how much better could things get?!!

Then everything went south. 

Next thing, David knew, he was on the hit-list. He was chased from the palace to the wilderness and ended up running for his life. He was totally outnumbered, discouraged and alone. In this psalm, we find him hiding in a cave and crying out to God.

“With my voice, I am crying out to God and pleading for mercy. I pour out my complaints before Him; and tell Him all of my troubles.” 

I read this over and over again, until my own heart was stirred. 

“LORD, I’ve got a few troubles and complaints I’d like to lay before You.” I even tried to make a list. I found a small notebook thinking this list might be a bit longer than writing on the page of my devotional that I was reading. It didn’t take too long before I wept.
Partly because remembering hard things and disappointments bring tears. But also, because it is good to lay our hearts bare before God who sees all things anyway and to ask Him to speak into our wounds, our troubles and complaints!!!

That was the key. Letting God speak into those places!!

“LORD, with what lens should I view these disappointments? What is Your perspective as the eternal God and loving Father? What wisdom can You give me? What lessons can I learn moving forward and how do I push theology through my circumstances??”

I know that’s a mouthful, but I made a little list. 

 - Be honest with God about your troubles and complaints. (He already knows when you’re complaining☺)
 - Don’t just rehearse them over and over again and go nowhere. (Yikes!!! How many times have I done that?!! “Woe is me, blah! Blah! Blah!!”)
 - Move forward by gaining wisdom and be open to what God is doing!!!
 - He has a well to draw from…take your bucket and get to the Well!!
 - Sift everything through God’s Word and remember David. God hears us in the “cave.” 

Then like David we can say, “My spirit faints within me, my soul is laid low…but You, O LORD, are my refuge and my portion in the land of the living. Bring me out of this cave, that I may give thanks to Your name…for You will deal bountifully with me.” 

We all know how the story of David ended. God delivered him, and He did become the King of Israel. 

Oh yes, God hears His children in the cave!!!