In the series How to Pray / In the Clefts of the Rock, we studied the importance of having a secret place. This is how David found his way out of the wilderness and into a kingdom. Let's study David's secret place found in I Samuel Chapter 24.
Our faith grows from the Words of the Bible. This is how we learn to see ourselves within its pages. Pay attention to these words all within the same chapter; I Samuel Chapter 24.
in the wilderness...v.1
upon the rocks of the wild goats...v.2
of the cave...v.3
Saul went in...v.3
David's heart smote him...v.5
The LORD forbid...v.6
Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way. v.7
for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil...v.17
I know well that thou shalt surely be king,...v.17
The wilderness is a hopeless barren place. This is what David felt as he was running from King Saul who was seeking to kill him. This was his wilderness; a dry thirsty land.
But David knew where to go. He found the rocks of the wild goats. And David spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:
And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; ...
He maketh my feet like hinds' feet: and setteth me upon my high places. 2 Samuel 22
While David was climbing these rocks to get above the wilderness floor, it was the Lord who kept him sure-footed so that he didn't slip.
After going to the rocks, David went inside the secret place of the Most High, the Cleft of the Rock, where He was under the Shadow of the Almighty. This was his fortress, his place of refuge.
Here's where David faced his trial, his enemy Saul. David in his flesh cut off the skirt of his enemy. Immediately, his heart smote him while in the presence of the Lord as the Lord forbade him to do evil. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; Matthew 5;44. David repented. His enemy went on his way.
This secret place in the Cleft of the Rock, is where David secured the kingdom for himself, as the Father rewarded him openly.
David cherished his secret place so much that he wrote a song about it and recorded it as Psalm 91. Grow to love and meditate on your secret place as much as King David.
Using David as our ensample, this is how to pray to turn trials into open rewards.
Recognize when you are in the wilderness.
Climb the mountain until you reach the high place of the Most High. (The Lord will be faithful in keeping you from slipping as you trust in Him).
Take refuge in the secret place where you're under the Shadow of the Almighty.
Face your enemy or struggles there before you face them in the world.
Rely on the Scriptures to hear the voice of God.
What you do within your closet or secret place determines what will manifest as an open reward.
Praise God for His faithfulness just as David wrote many of the Psalms.
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