Contemplative Bible Reading

1 Samuel 22:1-2 (New Living Translation)

So David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. Soon his brothers and all his other relatives joined him there. 2 Then others began coming—men who were in trouble or in debt or who were just discontented—until David was the captain of about 400 men.

David raises an army of 400 men. That is quite a feat, and should make David comfortable and safe. Note, however, the characteristics of the men in the army:

• in trouble
• in debt
• discontented

Not quite the individuals I would want in an ideal army. Still, the LORD provided this for David and the LORD made it work for David. Still, David needed a lot of faith to look about him and claim them as his army.