Psalm 140: Why it's good to be cavemen?

by Priscilla

Psalm 140 (NIV)

Imagine the scene: It’s a dark and misty night. A black, snarling creature is relentlessly pursuing you through dark woods. You can almost feel his evil breath on your back as you run as fast you can, tripping over twigs and roots. And then it begins to thunder as rain starts pelting down fast. You are still running but ever so often the beast catches a glimpse of you in the lightening flashes. Now, even your meagre cover of darkness has been blown. And just as you think your heart can take it no more and feels like it will burst open through your chest, you spot a small cave by the side. In you run, crouch, sit still and barely breathe. Seconds that seem like forever pass and suddenly you hear the rapid crunch of broken sticks and leaves as beast hurtles past the cave. You can breathe again. For the rest of this torrid night, you are now safe. When dawn breaks and mists lift - the world will be different place.

David had many experiences similar to this - where he was pursued like “a partridge in the mountains” (I Sam 26:20) by Saul and his heavily armed men. And while on the run, David and his men would find shelter in a cave and stay there till the trouble had passed.

Psalm 140 is David’s cry to God from one of his cave escapes.

Some times God is gracious to provide us with a cave sanctuary for us to hide when everything seems to go kaput at the same time.

In this cave we can catch our breath – cry out to God for help as David does in this Psalm.

Vs 1:
Rescue me, Lord, from evildoers;
    protect me from the violent,

Vs 4:

Keep me safe, Lord, from the hands of the wicked;
    protect me from the violent,

A cave of refuge is also a place to plan your next move in safety knowing your surety in God.

A cave experience can be one as mundane as a crazy day at home where by 6pm, all you need to do is retreat for 15 mins into a quiet place, cry out to God for help and with a deep breath plan what you are going to do next in the midst of the chaos.

Or a cave experience could be more challenging where perhaps you desire to make some key life decisions but are being pursued relentlessly by the business of life coming at you from all sides. Eagerly look for the cave opportunity that God provides – a quiet weekend away perhaps to seek Him and His calling. Cherish that time away. You never know how that could affect your life.

David’s cave experiences were the making of Him. I pray that ours would be just that.