From Cavemen to Mighty Men
Tony Schachle
From Cavemen to Mighty Men • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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SCRIPTURE
SCRIPTURE
David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. So when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him. 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.
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
Have you ever felt like you were hiding from something?
Not from a king with an army out to destroy you like David.
But maybe:
a failure,
shame from your past,
a debt you owe someone,
a broken relationship,
a responsibility,
a calling on your life.
That’s a cave.
David found himself in a cave
Running from King Saul.
Running from his past.
Surrounded by those who were IN DISTRESS | IN DEBT | DISCONTENTED.
But it is in the cave where God prepared David and his men for greatness!
EXPOSITION
EXPOSITION
Cave Men
David’s Condition
He has been ANOINTED, but not ENTHRONED.
He has the PROMISE, but not the POSITION.
He has been called by God to be King, but he is currently HOMELESS | HUNTED | and HIDING in a cave.
You can be called by God and still be in a cave season.
The cave is not proof that God left you, it is proof that God is preparing you.
Don’t despise the day of small beginnings.
The Men’s Condition
In Distress | [matsoq] | under pressure | squeezed by life’s difficulties
In Debt | [nasha] | creditors are calling | might lose everything | perhaps Saul is to blame
Discontented | [mar nephesh] | bitter of soul | frustrated
These aren’t bad men that became good | they are hurting men that were used by God.
God didn’t wait for these men to get it all together | He called them where they were.
God doesn’t call the qualified | He qualifies the called.
The Cave of Adullum
David Became Their Captain (Leader) | HE ACCEPTED THEM | HE TRAINED THEM | HE EMPOWERED THEM | Type of Jesus Christ
The Cave of Adullum was a place of preparation.
The cave was not a graveyard | it was a classroom.
God still transforms broken people into mighty people.
A blacksmith doesn’t throw away bent metal | he heats it in the fire and reshapes it | the cave is God’s forge to bend us into shape.
Mighty Men
400 men followed David in the cave. Three mighty men rose to the top. These three mighty men are an example of the transition FROM CAVEMEN TO MIGHTY MEN.
Being mighty is not about where you started, but it is about what you do with the opportunity in front of you.
Josheb-Basshebeth
These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-Basshebeth the Tachmonite, chief among the captains. He was called Adino the Eznite, because he had killed eight hundred men at one time.
JB was chief of the 3 mighty men.
1 Chronicles 11 states 300 men.
Eleazar
And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel had retreated. He arose and attacked the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand stuck to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to plunder.
Example of swinging a hammer | using a paint brush.
He stood against the enemy alone | the other men only returned to plunder after the battle was over.
Notice it was the Lord who “brought about a great victory that day.”
Shammah
And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines had gathered together into a troop where there was a piece of ground full of lentils. So the people fled from the Philistines. But he stationed himself in the middle of the field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. So the Lord brought about a great victory.
He stood his ground.
He defended a “pea patch” | perhaps insignificant to others - but important to him
Notice again, “the Lord brought about a great victory.”
APPLICATION
APPLICATION
Face What Others Fear (Jashobeam)
"...killed eight hundred men at one time."
Principle: Live by faith, not fear
Everyone sees 800 enemies.
Jashobeam sees an opportunity for God.
Application: Our culture is increasingly driven by fear
Fear of failure
Fear of rejection
Fear of standing for truth
Fear of the future
God is looking for believers who will trust Him when others are intimidated.
Key Statement: Faith faces what fear avoids
Hold What Others Drop (Eleazar)
"...his hand stuck to the sword."
Principle: Remain faithful when others retreat
The army ran.
Eleazar stayed.
The culture says:
Quit when it gets difficult.
Walk away when it costs something.
Take the easy path.
Eleazar teaches perseverance.
Application: There are some things worth holding on to
Your faith
Your marriage
Your calling
Your convictions
The Word of God
Key Statement: Faithfulness holds what others drop
Defend What Others Surrender (Shammah)
"...he stood in the middle of the field and defended it."
Principle: Protect what God has entrusted to you
Everyone else saw a bean field.
Shammah saw territory worth defending.
Application: Things worth defending
Your family
Your church
Your prayer life
Your testimony
Biblical truth
Key Statement: Conviction defends what compromise surrenders
CLOSING
CLOSING
God doesn't transform people by removing them from the cave first — He transforms them in it.
Every person in this room is somewhere on this line: in the cave, becoming a captain, or already swinging the sword.
Today isn't about perfect people. It's about distressed, indebted, discontented people who let God make something out of what they brought Him.
CALL TO ACTION
CALL TO ACTION
Invitation to recommit — not to perfection, but to showing up.
Invitation for anyone in a "cave season" to see it as preparation, not punishment.
Special prayer for fathers.
