David Ate the Showbread - Mark 2:26

Mark wrote about Jesus, “And it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn. And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful? And he said unto them, Have you never read what David did, when he had need, and was hungry, he, and they that were with him?”, and in chapter two and verse twenty-six of his book, Mark shared how Jesus said David, “did eat the showbread”where we read:

How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the showbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him?

The verse reads, “How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the showbread, ...” Mark began with the words, “how he went into the house of God” or “the way in which David entered into the dwelling place and habitation where people worshiped the Godhead” “in the days of Abiathar” which means “in the time period belonging to Abiathar which means father of abundance who was” “the high priest” or “the chief priest”, “and did eat the showbread” which means “and ate the food composed of flour mixed with water and baked the Israelites made it in the form of an oblong or round cake, as thick as one's thumb, and as large as a plate or platter hence it was not to be cut but broken and was consecrated to the Lord”. Mark shared how Jesus referred to the way “King David” and his men entered into the “worship” place where “Abiathar” was the “chief priest” and ate the “consecrated” bread which was used honor God.

The verse continues, “... which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him?” Mark added the words, “which is not lawful” which means “that is outside of the law of God” “to eat” which means “to consume and devour” “but for the priests” or “except and whether for the ones who offers sacrifices and in general in busied with sacred rites”, “and gave also to them” which means “and granted and bestowed also to the men” “which were with him” or “who were alongside and associated with David”? Mark shared how Jesus recalled how “eating the showbread” was illegal for anyone except for the “priests” to eat, however David and his associates ate it.

When we think through Mark's words in this verse, we see how Jesus employed the illustration of “King David” and his men eating the “sacred showbread” even when it was technically “unlawful” for them to do so. Jesus is going to correct the thinking of the Pharisees who were critical of everything they saw in Jesus and His disciples. God loves people, and His desire is to have a relationship with them through His Son Jesus. Those who are wise will realize Jesus has the answers for every honest question that people may have, and when a person understands who He is, the best response is to believe and trust in Him.

Next time Mark shares how Jesus said, “the sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".