In high school I joined the Caving Club. Caves riddle the limestone topography of the Ozarks, and our science teacher led a group once a month or so to visit a different cave. Dodging bats in the ceiling, wiggling through tight passages, and emerging as muddy explorers all made for a rollicking good time. I enjoyed spelunking, but never desired to live in a cave. A few hours in a dark hole pushed all of us to yearn for the light of day.

David spent a lot of time in caves hiding from King Saul, and in the darkness putting pen to papyrus. He wrote:

Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.

From his refuge in a cave David recognized the refuge of the Lord.

But while a cave makes for a good hide-out, it’s no place to spend your life. David wearied of the cave and prayed, I cry aloud to the Lord; I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy. I pour out before him my complaint, before him I tell my trouble...set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name.

You and I find ourselves stuck in caves, some of our own choosing and some by life’s circumstances. Regardless, we don’t have to stay there. We too can pray for God’s mercy, asking him to pull us from our dark places. Like with David, the Lord is also our rescuer. He hears our complaints and sets us free.

Psalm 57 & 142 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Justin Zhu