Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 21:1-9
As David ran for his life from Saul’s murderous anger, living in the hills of Judah, he naturally became hungry. By the time David came to Ahimelech, the high priest, he had a few men accompanying him. When David inquired if Ahimelech had any provisions, the answer was that the only bread available at that moment was the sacred bread displayed in the Holy Place in the Tabernacle.
This bread, sometimes called the ‘Showbread’ or the ‘Bread of the Presence,’ was arranged in two rows (perhaps in two stacks) of six loaves on a golden table in the Holy Place (Exod 25:23-30). The twelve loaves represented God’s provision to the twelve tribes of Israel. The bread was changed every Sabbath Day and was only to be eaten by the priests (Lev 24:5-9).
Under the circumstances (i.e., David’s hunger), the priest gave David the bread to eat, along with his men. Jesus used this example in the New Testament when He was teaching the Pharisees about true righteousness (Mt 12:1-7). True holiness is not a matter of anything external, like ceremonial washing or abstaining from certain foods or animal sacrifice.
True holiness is a matter of the heart. "I desire compassion, not a sacrifice" (Mt 12:7). The implications of this principle are far-reaching, particularly for our worship. Worship is not simply a matter of performing the right rituals … baptism, singing, giving, communion. Worship is a matter of the heart in a burning in desire for God. It is a heart of reverence and love for God that makes songs or prayers or eating the bread of the Lord’s Supper acceptable to Him. The essence of holiness is a pure heart that longs for the living God in repentance, delight, and submission.
