Rite or right?

1 Samuel 21.1-9

Reference: v. 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.

Explore: David had fled from Saul, without any food or even without weapons. This priest could have turned him away and not helped him, as he had so little to offer David, and yet he gave what he had – even though it was meant for a different purpose.

Application: So often we can get caught up in ritual or instructions and do what is written instead of helping those who are right in front of our faces. We are on “David’s side” and so we know it was right for Ahimelech to give the bread to David and yet this would have been a difficult thing for the priest to hand over, as it was being used for a religious act. It’s important that we check ourselves regularly and make sure that our religious routines are not getting in the way of ministering to someone near.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for being a personal and loving God. You know that disciplined actions are good for us as humans but you understand our everyday needs as well. Help us to also respond to those who cross our path today. Amen.

1 Samuel, priesthood, ritual