April 30, 2014
Ritual versus real needs. These two ought never to be in conflict but, unfortunately, they sometimes are.
David, a man after God’s own heart, was once fleeing from his enemies. He and his band of fighting men needed food, and approached a temple priest named Ahimelech for five loaves of bread. “So the priest gave him consecrated bread; for there was no bread there but the bread of the Presence which was removed from before the LORD, in order to put hot bread in its place when it was taken away.” (1 Samuel 21.6)
Many years later, Jesus would reference this incident when He and His disciples were criticized for picking grain on a Sabbath day: “Have you not read what David did when he became hungry, he and his companions, how he entered the house of God, and they ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for him to eat nor for those with him, but for the priests alone?” (Matthew 12.3-4)
God has established certain rituals and observances for our benefit. But, mercy and need always trumps observance of ritual, because this is the true heart of His highest commandments - to wholeheartedly love Him, and our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22.36-40).
It’s been said that good can easily become the enemy of the best. The rituals, habits, and disciplines of the people of God - individually and collectively - are designed for “training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3.16). But, these good things can become the enemy of the best if they stand in the way of urgent and real needs. As is so well summarized by the prophet Micah, “And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6.8). Justice and kindness must walk hand in hand with humble devotion to our God through godly habits and disciplines.
An interesting side note: David requested five loaves of bread for his hungry men. In one of Jesus’ great miracles, He fed over five thousand men, plus women and children, with five loaves of bread. Is the number coincidental? We have a Savior who is well able to meet the needs of those who are hungry - physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
©Steve Taylor, 2014
Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/
Amazon ebook & print devotional -http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FQ1Q9GW
paperback print copy of book — https://www.createspace.com/4500045
David, a man after God’s own heart, was once fleeing from his enemies. He and his band of fighting men needed food, and approached a temple priest named Ahimelech for five loaves of bread. “So the priest gave him consecrated bread; for there was no bread there but the bread of the Presence which was removed from before the LORD, in order to put hot bread in its place when it was taken away.” (1 Samuel 21.6)
Many years later, Jesus would reference this incident when He and His disciples were criticized for picking grain on a Sabbath day: “Have you not read what David did when he became hungry, he and his companions, how he entered the house of God, and they ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for him to eat nor for those with him, but for the priests alone?” (Matthew 12.3-4)
God has established certain rituals and observances for our benefit. But, mercy and need always trumps observance of ritual, because this is the true heart of His highest commandments - to wholeheartedly love Him, and our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22.36-40).
It’s been said that good can easily become the enemy of the best. The rituals, habits, and disciplines of the people of God - individually and collectively - are designed for “training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3.16). But, these good things can become the enemy of the best if they stand in the way of urgent and real needs. As is so well summarized by the prophet Micah, “And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6.8). Justice and kindness must walk hand in hand with humble devotion to our God through godly habits and disciplines.
An interesting side note: David requested five loaves of bread for his hungry men. In one of Jesus’ great miracles, He fed over five thousand men, plus women and children, with five loaves of bread. Is the number coincidental? We have a Savior who is well able to meet the needs of those who are hungry - physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
©Steve Taylor, 2014
Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/
Amazon ebook & print devotional -http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FQ1Q9GW
paperback print copy of book — https://www.createspace.com/4500045
posted by steve @ 9:40 AM
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