What do you desire when you find yourself in a cave of life? Psalm 54-56

Psalms 56:13 (NASBStr)

For You have delivered my soul from death,

 Indeed my feet from stumbling,

So that I may walk before God

In the light of the living.

In Psalms 54-56 we King David on the run and dealing with friends and foes who have sought his life and are currently seeking to destroy him.   He is being hunted by Saul, a former friend; by the Philistines, former enemies; and, people he doesn't really know are turning against him. We can't really understand this verse unless we see David in one cave and then running for his life to another cave.   He has surrounded himself with valiant men, but men who are wanted like he is.   These three Psalms come out of the darkest days of David's life.   Yet, in the midst of these dark times we see the greatest expressions of faith.  Unlike when David when he will be restored to the Kingship and falls into multiple sins and distress with his children, these are times David has been stripped of everything.  So, he goes where all of us go when everything is bad: To God.   In the midst of the dark David prays to God and assured God will deliver to the light.   The contrast in the above lines is obviously striking.  Darkness is all around him (he is in caves, hiding) and he longs for the light of God's presence.   Death is at this door (in reality) and he longs for life and living with God.  Hence the translation "light of the living."   David is facing the darkness of death.   But, in faith he knows that God will and has delivered him from stumbling.   As he goes across the rocks as Saul and his men pursue him, David acknowledges both in reality and metaphorically God has kept his foot from stumbling.   God has "delivered" (literally to "snatch away") him.   It is in the darkest times of our lives that we can find the most assurance of God's work in our lives.   As we follow God in prayer and seek His deliverance He will give us an assurance, even if we find ourselves in the deepest, darkest cave.   We should note that David's desire at this point is to walk with God in the light.   His heart is seeking after God.  Maybe this verse and this prayer of David is what God to say, "he is a man after My own heart." (Acts 13:22).   Despite the circumstances (good or bad) we should seek to "walk before God."   Despite the situation (good or bad) we should desire to walk in the "light of the living."   God wants us to fellowship with Him and rely on Him.  He allows the caves of life so that we will be on our knees and seek fellowship with Him.