David – a figure of Christ - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2025

David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. … 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

David – a figure of Christ
The story of David in the Old Testament contains many clear allusions to Jesus Christ, the true “Son of David”. This is also the case with today’s account from 1 Samuel. David has already been anointed king, but the reigning King Saul wants to do away with him, chasing him criss-cross through the land of Israel, and forcing him to flee to a neighbouring country. When David returns from there, his only hiding place is a cave, presumably in the rugged mountainous region east of Jerusalem.

But David doesn’t remain alone in the cave of Adullam. In addition to his family, about 400 men join him and David becomes their leader. What kind of men are they? What are their motives? We can identify three groups. There are the distressed who are unable to cope with the pressures of life. Others are in debt, with no prospect of being able to pay off their loans. And another group is extremely discontented. In fact, a rather motley crew of more or less desperate people have joined David here. But are their problems far removed from our problems today? To which group would we belong? After all, we too sometimes feel overwhelmed, bear guilt before God and men, or are deeply hurt.

The men at that time joined David with all their problems. This is all the more reason for us today to come to Jesus with all the difficulties, failures and even injustices that trouble us. Only with Him can we find safety and comfort.

Today’s reading: Isaiah 51:1-11 · Hebrews 11:32-40