READ: 1 Samuel 21 & Psalm 34
1 Samuel 21 begins with an
event that will have terrible repercussions in the next chapter. David and his
small band of followers end up in Nob where they come, hungry, before the
priest, Ahimelech. They ask for food, but there is none except for the bread of
the Presence – holy bread meant only for priests and to be eaten in a holy
place. But seeing David’s need, Ahimelech gives him and his men the bread of
the Presence. Jesus commended this action in the book of Mark. Mark 2:23-28: One Sabbath Jesus was going through the
grainfields, and as His disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads
of grain. The Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is
unlawful on the Sabbath?” He answered, “Have you never read what David did
when he and his companions were hungry and in need? In the days of
Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the
consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also
gave some to his companions.” Then He said to them, “The Sabbath was made
for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even
of the Sabbath.” Jesus was essentially saying that one must always look at
the law through the lens of love. Following God’s commands are so important,
but they must be followed with a heart of love. Jesus commended the priest for
putting the spirit of the law – mercy
and compassion – before the letter of
the law – the duty itself. While God’s moral law is not optional for us as
believers, we must seek to follow it out of our love for the Lord, and we must
seek to extend the love and compassion of Christ to those around us.
David continues on his flight
from Saul and ends up in Gath – the home of the Philistine, Goliath, whom David
conquered. Thinking no one will recognize him, he aims to lay low for a while,
but soon finds that the servants of the king know him by name, and know him to
be a mighty warrior in Israel. In fear, David pretends that he is insane in
order to discourage himself as a threat to the Philistines.
David was a worshiper at
heart. Perhaps he loved to worship since he was a boy, but certainly his time
with the flock gave him opportunity to meditate on God’s character. As a
shepherd himself, he had begun a journey of allowing God to shepherd his heart.
It is clear to see, when we read the Psalms, just why God called David a man
after His own heart. David sought to know the heart of God. He sought to love
what God loved and hate what God hated. He sought to get close into the
presence of God. He revered the Lord as God Almighty and trusted in the
salvation of Yahweh.
Psalm 34 is David’s song of
thanksgiving, glorifying God for the protection he experienced when he
encountered King Achish of Gath in 1 Samuel 21. He credits God as his Deliverer
and encourages all who look to the Lord in this way. He speaks of God’s
deliverance from fear; he declares the angelic protection given to those who
fear the Lord; he proclaims God’s goodness for all who take refuge in Him; and
he exalts the provision of the Lord. He urges the listener to fear the Lord, to
refrain from evil and deception, to repent of sin and choose to do good, and to
seek peace and pursue it. It is a wonderful Psalm, expressing thanksgiving to
God, our Protector. David was a true worshiper because he exalted the Lord in
plenty and in want, in victory and in defeat, in joy and in discouragement.
This Psalm followed on the heels of a very close call. We can feel David’s joy
and exultation as we read it. Let us seek to praise the Lord in all things like
David, that we may also be called people who seek after the heart of God.
JOURNALING AND PRAYER
1. Ask
God to speak to you about the letter of the law versus the spirit of the law.
The heart behind God’s law is love. Are there some things God has commanded of
you that you feel a level of resentment towards? Ask God to reveal the law of
love that is behind this command. Thank Him for it. Ask God to give you eyes of
mercy and compassion today.
2. Ask
God to fill you with His Spirit so that you can be a worshiper today. What can
you do to keep your heart and mind focused on who He is, in spite of any circumstances?
3. Spend
time in prayer for the church. Pray that Christians in our church and in our
nation would become true worshipers. Pray that the Canadian church would be
driven to her knees in prayer. This is what David was doing when he penned his
psalms – prayer and worship! Pray for an increased urgency for prayer in our
nation.
