Devotion • July 18
Today’s Scripture Reading
1 Samuel 21:1–15
David came to Nob to the priest Ahimelech. Ahimelech came trembling to meet David, and said to him, “Why are you alone, and no one with you?” David said to the priest Ahimelech, “The king has charged me with a matter, and said to me, ‘No one must know anything of the matter about which I send you, and with which I have charged you.’ I have made an appointment with the young men for such and such a place. Now then, what have you at hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever is here.” The priest answered David, “I have no ordinary bread at hand, only holy bread—provided that the young men have kept themselves from women.” David answered the priest, “Indeed women have been kept from us as always when I go on an expedition; the vessels of the young men are holy even when it is a common journey; how much more today will their vessels be holy?” So the priest gave him the holy bread; for there was no bread there except 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. Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the Lord; his name was Doeg the Edomite, the chief of Saul’s shepherds. David said to Ahimelech, “Is there no spear or sword here with you? I did not bring my sword or my weapons with me, because the king’s business required haste.” The priest said, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the valley of Elah, is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod; if you will take that, take it, for there is none here except that one.” David said, “There is none like it; give it to me.”
David rose and fled that day from Saul; he went to King Achish of Gath. The servants of Achish said to him, “Is this not David the king of the land? Did they not sing to one another of him in dances, ‘Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands’?” David took these words to heart and was very much afraid of King Achish of Gath. So he changed his behavior before them; he pretended to be mad when in their presence. He scratched marks on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle run down his beard. Achish said to his servants, “Look, you see the man is mad; why then have you brought him to me? Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this fellow to play the madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?” (NRSV)
Reflection
It seems that “all the things” are happening all at once in these 15 verses from 1 Samuel! We read of David fleeing from the wrath of Saul and seeking refuge in the house of the Lord. While Ahimelech is filled with trepidation and is hesitant to let David in, he relents when David lies about being on a secret mission for the king.
It is puzzling that this man who fully trusted and served God without question has seemingly lost his faith in God to keep God’s promises.
This indeed gives me pause today as I reflect on this pericope. However, it is verses 3–6 that called me to a deeper place within my soul.
David asks for bread and Ahimelech replies there is only Holy Bread. Bread that has been set aside for the Lord and to be eaten in the presence of the Lord. It is sacred and set aside; not meant for general consumption. David would surely know this, and yet he still asks.
I wonder if his request stems from a deeper place. . . yes, he is physically hungry and the bread is food, but maybe his request was really to fill the spiritual hunger his separation from God has created.
How do we, as Christians, find the sustenance for our spiritual hunger and, more importantly, how do we share it with all people?
Prayer
God of mercy, forgive me when I move away from you, and enter my heart today that I might be the vessel for your love and grace, pouring out into this world. Send your Holy Spirit to guide me in all situations so that I may act with compassion. Amen.
Written by Annette Mileski, Director of the Center for Life and Learning
Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church
Devotion index by date | I’d like to receive daily devotions by email
YouTube
Podcasts
/fourthchurch
#fourthchurch
#fourthchurch
@fourthchicago