David and the Holy Bread

As many who have followed me for a bit, I have fallen into the Psalms, and I can’t get up! (As if I would want to.) The Psalms are a majestic collection of poetry, of heart felt human experiences that constantly challenge me in my own frail attempt to follow the true King. As many of the Psalms are written by David, my study on the Psalms has spurred me on to looking at the life of David, is the main contributor to this book, and to follow the victories and tragedies of the shepherd King of Israel.

Many times in the narrative, we will see the Lord Jesus, imperfectly, yet a reflection of His spirit in a man with weaknesses.

1 Samuel 21:8-9

8 Then David said to Ahimelech, “Then have you not here a spear or a sword at hand? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king’s business required haste.”
9 And the priest said, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you struck down in the Valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, take it, for there is none but that here.” And David said, “There is none like that; give it to me.”

Goliath’s Sword

David has acquired food, and Doeg has acquired information. At this point, David has to dip into his lie once more, of being sent by the king.

Now I don’t know about you, but I don’t suspect the tabernacle was the equivalent of a gun armory, (or a sword armory, if we should think back then). For David to ask about weapons that the priest may have may show a bit of desperation, yet again Ahimelech works with David in his request. It just so happens that the very sword of Goliath was stored at the tabernacle.

This willingness of David to take the sword, this massive sword of Goliath may give us a hint to the growth he experienced as a warrior since his initial encounter with Saul. If you recall, when offered the armor of king Saul, he rejected it, due to it not being tested. I suspect the armor was not to his customary use, being a shepherd boy.

Things are different now. David was an accomplished warrior, strong and able to handle conventional weapons with skill and force.

Psalm 18:34 He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

Goliath’s sword was also a symbol of victory, a symbol of David’s ascendency to power, a symbol of a young shepherd boy who took on a giant and with the giant’s own weapon, slew him.

Yes David approved of taking the sword. Did he know all along where the sword had been stored? Whether he knew it was stored there or not is unknown in my understanding, but the fact remains, this was a very opportune situation for a man on the run!

And he was on the run. Tired, hungry, fearful, anxious. The situation was hitting him hard and in his first encounter after realizing he was formally a hunted man, he failed to be honest with a man of God.

Honesty amongst believers

Sometimes a believer is lied to in order to conceal an actual situation, for many reasons. Let us not be offended by a brother’s weakness, doubting them, or judging them in order to avoid the situation, but do what we can with what we have to be a blessing to them. Is this not the attitude of Ahimelech?

The rest of the deal is with God.

Romans 14:11-12

for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

David was eventually taught by God in this failure, and tragically people died, God fearing men died due to this failure of David.

How can we process this seeming injustice? The innocent died for a guilty man’s lies. How can this be right?

Can you recall when this may have happened for you in your life?

Personally, I have failed much in my Christian life, and I have seen the mercy of God reach out to my family and I, rescue us in my weakness, protecting my family and friends. When I have failed, and sensed no return to blessings for those close to me, I consider a small verse I tripped over by the grace of God.

Joel 2:25

I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you.

Joel had seen his nation ravaged due to massive swarms of locusts descending of the fields of Israel, stripping the land of all food. It was a judgement of God on a wayward and rebellious nation, and came after much patience of the Lord, much seeking of the Lord for the nation to repent. But judgement fell. Suffering was experienced. Death was widespread.

For believers, we need to understand we are not beyond the temporal judgement of God, and yet we can trust He restores in His own way.

It is the mercy of God to restore. Out of this restoration, His mercy is to pull us closer, pull us to love Him more, to live for Him.

Be thankful for His mercy and judgements. Speak of His goodness. Let others know of His mercies. He is good and He is good all the time!

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