Is your faith based more on reverence or ritual?
Perceive: On the run, David goes to Nob where he encounters the priest Ahimelech. The priest recognizes David and is a bit fearful as to the reason Israel’s greatest warrior is visiting his tabernacle by himself. The arrival of David without an escort seemed alarming, so the priest was afraid and asked some questions. Our hero answers with a fabricated story of an urgent secret mission and then asks for bread. This bread, called the bread of the Presence, symbolized two things: God’s presence among His people and God’s provision for their physical needs. After replacing the bread with fresh loaves, it was eaten only by the priests on duty. Consecrated bread was special and considered holy in its use to worship God.
Practice: In this situation, Ahimelech had to go against the Law to give the consecrated bread to David, because the bread was supposed to be given only to the priests (Leviticus 24:5-9). Ahimelech put David’s need for food ahead of religion ritual. This action is a great example of upholding the higher law of compassion and love over religious ceremony and tradition. In His ministry, Jesus referred to this incident to show that God’s laws are designed to focus on worship, not works (Matthew 12:1-8). If we become more concerned about the means of worship than the one we worship, we lose our ability to see and sense the power and presence of our blessed Savior.
Pray: Lord, open my eyes to see and fill me with Your inward abiding presence. Enable me to experience more of You on a daily basis.
This devotional challenge comes from The Heart of a Lion - King David of Israel and is available on Amazon.com
Practice: In this situation, Ahimelech had to go against the Law to give the consecrated bread to David, because the bread was supposed to be given only to the priests (Leviticus 24:5-9). Ahimelech put David’s need for food ahead of religion ritual. This action is a great example of upholding the higher law of compassion and love over religious ceremony and tradition. In His ministry, Jesus referred to this incident to show that God’s laws are designed to focus on worship, not works (Matthew 12:1-8). If we become more concerned about the means of worship than the one we worship, we lose our ability to see and sense the power and presence of our blessed Savior.
Pray: Lord, open my eyes to see and fill me with Your inward abiding presence. Enable me to experience more of You on a daily basis.
This devotional challenge comes from The Heart of a Lion - King David of Israel and is available on Amazon.com
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