Theme: COMMENTARY ON HEBREWS 11:32 - 40
Text: “So the priest gave him hallowed bread: for there was no bread there but the shewbread, that was taken from before the LORD, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.” – 1 Samuel 21:6.
Comment: During the phase of his life when Saul the king was pursuing him from pillar to post, David, came to Nob to meet Ahimelech the high Priest. At David’s request, the priest gave him the hallowed bread, which is meant for the priests, but which he said David and his men could eat if they had kept themselves clean. (See Leviticus 24:5-9) Since they met the condition, he gave them the bread. Incidentally, one of the servants of Saul, called Doeg, an Edomite, was there when this discussion took place. (1 Samuel 21:7) Later, while David was expressing frustration at his inability to arrest David, it was this Edomite that revealed that Ahimelech the priest had given bread and the sword of Goliath to David. Consequently, Saul summoned the high priest who did not deny what he did, adding for good measure that David was one of the faithful servants of the king and also his son- in- law. So angry was Saul that he commanded his soldiers to kill the priests. But they refused. It was Doeg the Edomite who carried out the order. He also slew everyone he could find in the city of Nob.
Having been over-reached by the devil, Saul was busy demonstrating the Devil’s character by killing and destroying. Ahimelech demonstrated great faith by standing on the Lord’s side even at the risk of death. He is an example to people of God today. See Mark 8:35,36; Acts 5:29; Galatians 1:10.