"Then the king said to Doeg, 'You turn around and attack the priests.' And Doeg the Edomite turned around and attacked the priests, and he killed that day eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod." -1 Samuel 22:18
"You will say then, 'Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.' Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith." - Romans 11:19
"Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? Or who has first given to Him, that it might be paid back to him again? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen." - Romans 11:33-35
This was not the best day for Israel. Not only were 85 of their priests slaughtered just for harboring the one man the Bible says was after the Lord's own heart, but the olive branches are getting popped off and discarded only to be replaced with adoptive branches.
So David was on the lam, running from the dethroned king, and took refuge in the temple where he ate the consecrated bread. I thought that may have had some analog to communion, but I don't think it does.
I thought one interesting image through 1 Samuel this morning was that although God has been such an intervening force throughout David's short career as king-to-be, He doesn't seem to take a lot of action in these two chapters. To me, it appeared as if the only thing He actively did was grant permission for David to eat the consecrated bread (if that is active). Contrast that with Goliath's sword, the sign of deliverance of which David was reminded when the priest gave it to him, and if I were David I'd feel like the Lord had abandoned me and disliked me overall. I would have come to that conclusion.
Instead, David rolled with the punches. He even heard about the slaughter of the 85 priests, claimed responsibility, and then reaffirmed that his people were safe with him (22:22-23). He trusted God to deliver him and his men from death, even though he knew good and well that the priests couldn't have done the same. McArthur says the priests had to die to complete the curse on Eli's house. Whatever it was, it was ugly.
Romans was a little disturbing this morning, to me. Although I'm grateful, it's always hard for me to get used to the slight anti-Gentile angle the NT takes. Even when Jesus compared us to dogs that can't eat at the table, and the lady said yes but even dogs get scraps, I may have been a little put off. But I like this illustration anyway, where we are grafted onto the church and become its branches. We'll have to explore this a little further on Manday. I mean Monday.
The prayer at the end sums us up. I think it speaks for itself. I suggest that if you read this far, you'll be willing to pray that prayer at your desk, maybe even under your breath, and just let the Lord know you love him.
Powell
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