1Samuel 21:1-15
Friday, 07 February 2025
So the priest gave him consecrated bread; for there was no bread there except the bread of the Presence which was removed from its place before the Lord ……..1Samuel 21:6
David was a young man of no more than 20 years when he had to leave Saul’s palace and his own home because of Saul’s persistent plans to destroy him. Chapters 21 -26 of 1st Samuel describe David’s life in exile. The next Ten years until he became the King at 30, David was wandering in various places. Though outwardly we may see David the would-be king without a kingdom; without his own family; having no authority, he still trusts in God who called him (1 Samuel16:12), anointed him (1Samuel 16:13) and appointed him (1Samuel16:1).
2 Samuel7:8-I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people Israel.
Our God is a God of Mission – He accomplishes all His plans through His servants. God’s plan was to appoint David in the place of Saul, which He accomplished. However there was a time in his life before David was appointed King, that looked like the plan of God wasn’t going to be accomplished—the future king was on a run for his life. But God was teaching David some very important lessons in life which we read in his Psalms such as 18, 34, 52, 54, 56, 57. All his experiences during those difficult times were working together to prepare David to become a leader who would glorify God and lead His people.
Ps.52:8 But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the loving kindness of God forever and ever.
Ps34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.
Ps18:18 -19 They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the LORD was my stay. He brought me forth into a broad place; He rescued me, because He delighted in me.
Ps 56:11 In God, I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?
Ps 57:2 I will cry to God the Most High, to God who accomplishes all things for me.
What a confidence and trust in God who called him! From the key verse we understand that David in his flight from Saul has come to Nob, the city of priests and requests the priest to give him bread to eat as he would have been exhausted by the travel. There was no ordinary bread available but only the holy Show bread, taken from the Lord’s presence to be replaced with fresh ones. However, this was to be eaten only by priests. Since they are all ceremonially pure, the priest gives them the bread to eat and the Law permitted this on the basis that life is more holy than bread!
We can see that Jesus quoted this incident, recorded in Matt.12:3-4, Mark2:26-27, Luke 6:3-4
So definitely this is something that needs our attention! The bread of Presence or the Show bread in the Tabernacle (Ex.25:30, Lev24:5-9) is a type of Jesus Christ. David in His time of distress and hopelessness, did eat that bread. Jesus referred to Himself as the bread of life (John 6:48) – this was in relation to manna. Again He said in John 6:51: I am the living bread that came down from out of heaven; if anyone eats this bread he will live forever.
The eating that referred here signifies our intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. Our lives passionately united with Him and diligently following His commands will reflect the divine life imparted by Him and thus we will be able to demonstrate a victorious life in this world.
Remember, David after eating the bread of Presence was still running for his life, but one day after he learned what God wanted him to learn and when God saw that David’s life was trained enough to take up the responsibility of kingship, David was enthroned as King (2Samuel 2:4) and God promised to David in 2Samuel 7:16 Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever. We know that in Christ this promise of God was established.
In our journey of faith as we face various troubles like David faced in his life, we too need to eat the holy bread – the bread of life that came from heaven. As Jesus stated in John 6:57:…he who eats Me, will live because of Me.
Listen: 'Come unto Jesus'
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