The Priest Gave Him the Consecrated Bread
1 Samuel 21
Key Verse 6
“So the priest gave him the consecrated bread, since there was no bread there
except the bread of the Presence that had been removed from before the LORD
and replaced by hot bread on the day it was taken away.”
Introduction:
After confirming what is in Saul thanks to Jonathan’s help, David came to know his determined heart to kill him. So he became a permanent fugitive from this chapter. Like Jacob in the Genesis who was in danger of being killed by his brother, Esau, He had to leave his home and alone in the field. David was hungry and felt that he needed some tangible assurance. This passage shows his inner fear. He asked about food to survive. He also asked about a weapon to protect himself from any harm or attack. But God led him to experience God’s mercy and he ended up trusting and praising the Sovereign Lord. May the Lord help us to see God’s intervention in our lives. Help us to overcome inner fear and glorify God’s name.
1. Read verses 1-7. Where does David go? (1a) What does Ahimelek ask him? (1b) What is David’s answer? (2) What does David ask? (3) What can the priest offer to David to eat? (4) How does David persuade him to give the consecrated bread? (5, 6; Lev 24:5-9; Mk 2:25-26) Who was there? (7)
1.1 Read verses 1-7.
David went to Nob, to Ahimelek the priest. Ahimelek trembled when he met him, and asked, “Why are you alone? Why is no one with you?” 2 David answered Ahimelek the priest, “The king sent me on a mission and said to me, ‘No one is to know anything about the mission I am sending you on.’ As for my men, I have told them to meet me at a certain place. 3 Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever you can find.” 4 But the priest answered David, “I don’t have any ordinary bread on hand; however, there is some consecrated bread here—provided the men have kept themselves from women.” 5 David replied, “Indeed women have been kept from us, as usual whenever[HYPERLINK "http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel%2021&version=NIV" \l "fen-NIV-7778b" \hb] I set out. The men’s bodies are holy even on missions that are not holy. How much more so today!” 6 So the priest gave him the consecrated bread, since there was no bread there except the bread of the Presence that had been removed from before the LORD and replaced by hot bread on the day it was taken away. 7 Now one of Saul’s servants was there that day, detained before the LORD; he was Doeg the Edomite, Saul’s chief shepherd.
1.2 Where does David go? (1a)
David went to Nob, to Ahimelek the priest.
Nob, near Gibeah of Benjamin, is located at the north east about twelve miles from Jerusalem.”
Ahimelech was a priest at the house of God, the tabernacle of the LORD, where the sacred altar and Ark of the Covenant were. David goes to the house of the LORD. Psalm 73:16-17 read, “When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.” David begins his first day as a permanent fugitive in a good way - he comes to the house of the LORD.
1.3 What does Ahimelek ask him? (1b)
Ahimelek trembled when he met him, and asked, “Why are you alone? Why is no one with you?” He wonders what is going on.
1.4 What is David’s answer? (2)
2 David answered Ahimelek the priest, “The king sent me on a mission and said to me, ‘No one is to know anything about the mission I am sending you on.’ As for my men, I have told them to meet me at a certain place.
It was a plain lie. Although he visited God’s house, but he lied to protect himself. Or he maybe wanted to protect innocent priests from his trouble by not revealing anything to him.
1.5 What does David ask? (3)
3 Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever you can find.”
1.6 What can the priest offer to David to eat? (4)
4 But the priest answered David, “I don’t have any ordinary breadon hand; however, there is some consecrated bread here—provided the men have kept themselves from women.”
As one enters the tabernacle, the table of “Bread of Presence” (showbread) stood on the right hand side, opposite the golden lamp-stand. The table of showbread was made of acacia wood, overlaid with gold; it was 3 feet long, 1 foot 6 inches wide, and 2 feet 3 inches high. It was made almost 500 years before David’s time, when Israel came from Egypt and was on their way into the Promised Land
On this table were twelve loaves of showbread, made of fine flower. Twelve cakes of showbread - one for each tribe of Israel - would stand on the table, sprinkled lightly with frankincense. Once a week, the bread would be replaced on Sabbath, and priests were to eat the old bread.
Ahimelech was only concerned that those eating the bread be ceremonially clean according to the standards of Lev 15:1-33. ( Among other things, ceremonial cleanness relates to marital relations)
1.7 How does David persuade him to give the consecrated bread? (5, 6; Lev 24:5-9; Mk 2:25-26)
5 David replied, “Indeed women have been kept from us, as usual whenever I set out. The men’s bodies are holy even on missions that are not holy. How much more so today!” 6 So the priest gave him the consecrated bread, since there was no bread there except the bread of the Presence that had been removed from before the LORD and replaced by hot bread on the day it was taken away.
Lev 24:5-9 “Take the finest flour and bake twelve loaves of bread, using two-tenths of an ephah for each loaf. 6 Arrange them in two stacks, six in each stack, on the table of pure gold before the LORD. 7 By each stack put some pure incense as a memorial portion to represent the bread and to be a food offering presented to the LORD. 8 This bread is to be set out before the LORD regularly, Sabbath after Sabbath, on behalf of the Israelites, as a lasting covenant. 9 It belongs to Aaron and his sons, who are to eat it in the sanctuary area, because it is a most holy part of their perpetual share of the food offerings presented to the LORD.”
Mark 2:25-26 25 He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? 26 In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.”
Matthew 12:1-8 (further reference). At that time Jesus went through the grain-field on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. 2 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.” 3 He answered, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread—which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. 5 Or haven’t you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are innocent? 6 I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. 7 If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’[HYPERLINK "http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+12&version=NIV" \l "fen-NIV-23497a" \ha]you would not have condemned the innocent. 8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
1.8 Who was there? (7)
7 Now one of Saul’s servants was there that day, detained before the LORD; he was Doeg the Edomite, Saul’s chief shepherd.
He informs Saul of this.
2. Read verses 8-9. What else does David ask for? (8) What is the priest’s answer? (9a) What does David say? (9b)
2.1 Read verses 8-9.
8 David asked Ahimelek, “Don’t you have a spear or a sword here? I haven’t brought my sword or any other weapon, because the king’s mission was urgent.” 9 The priest replied, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, is here; it is wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you want it, take it; there is no sword here but that one.” David said, “There is none like it; give it to me.”
2.2 What else does David ask for? (8)
8 David asked Ahimelek, “Don’t you have a spear or a sword here? I haven’t brought my sword or any other weapon, because the king’s mission was urgent.”
We do not know the reason why he asked about spear or a sword.
But I believe that because he had already begun to lie and had to lie continuously and pretend to be in hurry and in need of weapon for the business of a king.
But lie has to do with his inner fear.
It become a snowball to make another story to be elaborated further.
In the past when he had God’s heart and spirit, he was not willing to use Saul’s sword in fighting Goliah. But this time he asked for a weapon.
It indicates his inner fear to depend on something else other than God.
David lost confidence in God and in fulfillment of God’s purpose for his life which had been revealed to him. He went to God’s house for comfort and help and guidance, but he was fearful and he ended up lying.
2.3 What is the priest’s answer? (9a)
9 The priest replied, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, is here; it is wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you want it, take it; there is no sword here but that one.”
2.4 What does David say? (9b)
David said, “There is none like it; give it to me.”
Knowing that something is precious and wonderful, it makes us want it. Being in a time of trial or stress makes us want the wonderful thing all the more.
Our sword should be the word of God’s promise, not good looking Goliath’s sword!
3. Read verses 10-12. Where does David go next? (10; 1 Sam 17:4) What do the servants of Achish say about David? (11) What might have David’s heart been going through? (12, Psalm 56:3, 4)
3. 1 Read verses 10-12.
10 That day David fled from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath.11 But the servants of Achish said to him, “Isn’t this David, the king of the land? Isn’t he the one they sing about in their dances: “‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?” 12 David took these words to heart and was very much afraid of Achish king of Gath.
3.2 Where does David go next? (10; 1 Sam 17:4)
10 That day David fled from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath.
It is ironical to see the fact he went to the city of Gath, Goliath’s hometown with his sword!
We often times got into the deep trouble when we rely on our wisdom instead of God’s words.
1 Sam 17:4
A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. His height was six cubits and a span.
3.3 What do the servants of Achish say about David? (11)
11 But the servants of Achish said to him, “Isn’t this David, the king of the land? Isn’t he the one they sing about in their dances: “‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?”
3.4 What might have David’s heart been going through? (12, Psalm 56:3, 4)
12 David took these words to heart and was very much afraid of Achish king of Gath.
Psalm 56:3, 4 “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”
Also look at verse 10 “In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise.”
In such a critical momentum when he was captured by the king, he offered 911 emergency prayer before God.
He was very much afraid of him.
But Psalm 56:1 reads, “Be merciful to me, my God!”
He asked about God’s mercy at this hopeless situation. He gave up his own idea and wisdom because he found that it did not work, but made him to be troubled further.
But he did not give in to such situation.
he asked about God’s mercy and help and remember who God is and what God has promised.
The phrase “in God (the Lord), whose word I praise” repeated 3 times.
He remembered God’s word of promise!
It is a great turning point for him to come back to his own senses as an anointed servant.
Psalm 2:2 also indicates that people can not do anything against God and God’s anointed one.
When David trusted in himself or in the ungodly, he had wandered from God’s truth. Now, he will praise His word!
May the Lord help us to grow up as people of prayer to trust in the Living God according to his promises. Amen
4. Read verses 13 -15. What does David do? (13) What is the king’s response? (14,15) How might David have felt at hearing the king’s response? (Psalm 34:4,19)
4.1 Read verses 13 -15.
13 So he pretended to be insane in their presence; and while he was in their hands he acted like a madman, making marks on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard. 14 Achish said to his servants, “Look at the man! He is insane! Why bring him to me? 15 Am I so short of madmen that you have to bring this fellow here to carry on like this in front of me? Must this man come into my house?”
4.2 What does David do? (13)
13 So he pretended to be insane in their presence; and while he was in their hands he acted like a madman, making marks on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard.
It reminds me of what Shepherd Robert F. shared his life testimony on our Spring Bible conference.
When he was in trouble at the time of being kidnapped from hired de-programmers, he offered emergency prayer and remembered Psalm 56.
Nothing worked to escape from them. Then he pretended that he couldn’t agree with them more.
And then they agreed to let him go of.
4.3 What is the king’s response? (14,15)
14 Achish said to his servants, “Look at the man! He is insane! Why bring him to me? 15 Am I so short of madmen that you have to bring this fellow here to carry on like this in front of me? Must this man come into my house?”
4.4 How might David have felt at hearing the king’s response? (Psalm 34:4,19)
Psalm 34:4,19
“I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.”(4)
The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all;” (19)
In this Psalm, we see difference between many and all.
Look at Genesis 33:9-11
But Esau said, “I already have plenty, my brother. Keep what you have for yourself.” 10 “No, please!” said Jacob. “If I have found favor in your eyes, accept this gift from me. For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably. 11 Please accept the present that was brought to you, for God has been gracious to me and I have all I need.” And because Jacob insisted, Esau accepted it.
Esau mentioned about plenty while Jacob said that he had all he need.
What a change it is! Jacob used to be the same person like Esau to chase after one thing after another to acquire many or plenty.
But now all he need is in the Lord according to his gracious hands.
May the Lord help us to confess the same thing before God through relying on Him and His living words!
In Conclusion:
Through this passage we see dramatic change from fearful David into joyful David thanks to God’s provision and his living words. Our lives are much like journey. Often times we lost our way or have wrong map to make us astray. When David relied on himself and unreliable things such as a sword, he got into more trouble. But thank God who gives him a correct road map to get back to his tract to get there; right relationship with the Lord Almighty. I am very thankful to the Lord whose words are trustworthy always. May the Lord help each of us to be led with God’s living words of promise to overcome any fear and be soldiers of Jesus Christ! Amen.
One word: in God, whose word I praise!!!
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