DAVID AND THE HOLY BREAD

1. David And The Holy Bread

a) Featured Scripture Text

1 Samuel 21:6 

So the priest gave him the holy bread, for there was no bread there but the bread of the Presence, which is removed from before the LORD, to be replaced by hot bread on the day it is taken away.

@1. David came to the tabernacle looking for something to eat and a weapon with which he could defend himself (1 Samuel 21:1-9).

@2. Prior to this, David was running from Saul, who was motivated to kill him out of a desire to protect his own throne (1 Samuel 20:30–31).

@3. After realizing that Saul was out to get him, David fled to Nob to meet Ahimelech, the priest who was presiding over the tabernacle (1 Samuel 21:1). 

@4. David asked for food, and the only thing that was present at the tabernacle was the bread of the Presence.

b) Why did the priest Ahimelech allow the holy bread to be given away to David?

@1. The priest Ahimelech had given David the old showbread that had been replaced by new showbread. According to the Law, only the priests were allowed to eat the old showbread after it was replaced with new.

@2. Ahimelech knew the Law was given to further life and that the spirit of the Law demanded that feeding the needy must be put ahead of ritual if the two ever seem to conflict.

Deuteronomy 15:7-8 

If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be.

c) Jesus later appealed to this incident to justify His practice of ignoring those Pharisaic traditions that put safeguarding religious ritual above helping the hungry.

Mark 2:23-26 

One Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and as they made their way, his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. And the Pharisees were saying to him, "Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?" 

And he said to them, "Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God, in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?"

d) Have you ever come to a crossroad where you are placed in a situation of making a hard decision: meeting compassionate needs versus following traditions? Which one will you choose?

e) Following such traditions leads only to bondage to sin and not freedom according to the law of liberty that the Spirit enables us to obey.

James 1:25 

But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

f) Many a time we are faced with such a situation and may have to make a hard decision. Such a time like this may not be pleasant and unpopular. 

g) So what is your real motivation? Either swing to the left or to the right! The choice is yours!

h) As long as your decision is redemptive, moved by compassion and right without traces of any sin, it is admirable and well pleasing to the eyes of others and God himself.