Scriptures: Leviticus 24:5-9, 1 Samuel 21:1-6, & Mark 2:23-28
Song of Praise: Doxology
Devotion:
In the Old Testament, the Tabernacle was the temporary dwelling place of God. This is where the people of God were able to offer their sacrifices to Him.
Inside were many ornate plates, cups, bowls, and all sorts of other utensils that the priests used. God gave His people very detailed instructions for the layout and design of His Tabernacle. Every single cherubim and candle had a symbolic meaning.
On the table, in the Tabernacle, lay the bread of presence, or you may also know it as showbread. In Leviticus, we read about God's instructions regarding the bread of presence. On the allocated day, fresh bread was placed on the table, and only the Priests were allowed to eat it. It was a special portion of food reserved for the priests because of their service to the Lord.
Our second scripture reading in 1 Samuel, shows us something quite alarming.
We are launched into the middle of a precarious saga involving the future King, David, and his men.
In an effort to escape the lethal pursuit of the illegitimate King Saul, quite literally, David and His boys are running for their lives.
While on their excursion, David decides to take refuge in the tabernacle.
Here he meets the priest named Ahimelech. While hiding at the tabernacle, they ask Ahimelech for food. The Priest's only inquiry is whether they have focused solely on their mission. (1 Sam 21:4b "if the young men have kept themselves from women")
David assures the priest of their faithfulness, and they receive the showbread. Why is this so alarming? David and his men are not priests. The Showbread is for priests only!
God had struck people dead for much less.
How did David and His men survive such audacious actions?
Perhaps our last scripture reading will help make sense of it all.
In Mark, Jesus compares Himself and His disciples with David and his Soldiers.
Jesus equivocates breaking man-made Sabbath work restrictions to David breaking the law about the showbread.
How could Jesus do this? How could Jesus justify David's actions?
In truth, we must remember that David was a type of Christ, a foreshadowing.
David's kingly reign is a prototype of Jesus' Messianic reign.
However, the bread was reserved for the priests, not the King.
The answer is hidden in David's response to Ahimelech,
"And David answered the priest, “Truly women have been kept from us as always when I go on an expedition. The vessels of the young men are holy even when it is an ordinary journey. How much more today will their vessels be holy?"
David and His men, having kept themselves from enjoying their marriage beds, were devoted wholly unto their responsibilities, as that was righteous behavior.
For David and his men to enter into communion with God, without dying, they must be holy.
A Holy and perfect God cannot commune with sinners.
David consuming the bread of presence is a gospel shadow.
Similarly, Jesus and His disciples were on a kingly mission. They too were en route, about to establish Christ's Kingdom.
Like King Saul, an illegitimate ruler, the religious leaders of Jesus' day thought they rightly understood the law of God. How wrong they were.
Jesus was the very word of God made flesh, and He came to restore all that was unholy and broken, including broken people.
The bread of presence, regularly consumed was symbolic of the presence of God.
Jesus, who gives us eternal life through his body and blood, is our daily bread.
The bread of presence, displayed on a table, points us to the heavenly table prepared by our Great High Priest. Our Great High Priest, Jesus, has delivered to us his body and blood, our spiritual food, so that we may be made holy, and never hunger again.
So come to your table and let the provisions set before you remind you of the ultimate provision we have in our Lord Jesus, who is our bread of presence.
Table Talk Questions:
Why was it alarming for David to eat the showbread?
Why was it alarming for Jesus to heal on the Sabbath?
What great truth does the showbread in the tabernacle point us to?
Benediction:
May the Lord bless you and keep you;
May the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26
Meal: Impressive Chicken Pot Pie, Garlic and Cheese Biscuit, Sonie's Smores Bars
Recipes:
Impressive Chicken Pot Pie
Prep and Cook Time: 2 hours
Yields: 1 Pie
Pie Crust:
2 ½ cups Flour
1 Tablespoon Sugar
1 teaspoon Salt
2 sticks Butter
*OR 2- premade pie crust
Filling:
1 can Cream of Chicken Soup
1 can of sliced Carrot (drained well)
1 can of Green Beans (drained well)
1 can of Peas(drained well)
2 Russet Potatoes, peeled and chopped
1 small Onion, chopped finely
2-3 Chicken Breasts, chopped into bite sized pieces
¼ cup Flour
2 teaspoon Salt
2 teaspoon Pepper
1teaspoon Garlic Powder
½ tsp dried Basil
Instructions:
Crust:
In a medium sized bowl add all dry ingredients and mix well, with a pastry cutter, or your fingers, slowly cut in (cold) butter. Be careful not to overmix.
You want small pea sized chunks of butter to remain in your flour mix, this will give you flaky layers.
Add water to the mixture, once again, be careful not to overmix.
Stop mixing as soon as the dough begins to form a ball that may be rolled out.
Refrigerate for 30 minutes before you roll out your dough. This will allow the butter to harden again, giving you flaky layers.
After the dough has rested, separate into two balls, roll each ball out into an even circle (about 10 inches in diameter).
Add the first to a pie pan as your bottom crust, and leave the second as your top crust.
Filling:
In a large saucepan, add all of your filling ingredients, cook on medium high until the mix becomes thick and the chicken begins to cook (it will finish cooking in the oven)
add filling mixture to the pie and cover with the top pie crust.
Crimp the edges of your pie, ensuring the filling doesn't run out of the pie.
Slice a vent to the top of the pie, allowing steam and moisture to escape while it cooks.
Bake at 350° for about an hour or until it is brown and crispy.
Garlic & Cheese Biscuit
Prep and Cook Time: 1 ¼ hours
Serves: 12
8 Slices Bacon, diced
4 cups All-Purpose Flour
1 cup extra-sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded
4 teaspoons Baking Powder
1 ½ cups Butter, frozen
1 ½ cups Buttermilk *see tips for making your own
6 Tablespoons Maple Syrup, divided
2 Tablespoons Butter, melted
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 450° F.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
Heat a large skillet over medium high heat.
Add bacon and cook until brown and crispy, about 6-8 minutes. Drain excess fat; transfer bacon to a paper towel lined plate.
In a large bowl, combine bacon, flour, cheese, bacon powder, salt, and bacon soda.
Grate butter and stir into the flour mixture.
In a medium bowl, whisk together buttermilk and 4 tablespoons of maple syrup. Add flour and stir until a soft dough forms.
Working on a lightly floured surface, knead the dough 3-4 times until it comes together.
Using a rolling pin, roll the dough into a 1 ¼ inch thick rectangle.
Cut out 12 rounds using a 2-2 ½ inch biscuit or cookie cutter.
Place biscuits onto the prepared baking sheet.
Place in the freezer for 15 mins.
Remove biscuits from freezer. Place into oven and bake for 15-18, or until golden brown
In a bowl, whisk together remaining 2 tablespoons maple syrup and butter.
Serve biscuits warm, brushed with the maple-butter mixture.
Sonie's Smores Bars
Prep and Bake Time: 45 minutes
Yields: 16 squares
½ cup Butter
2 cups Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
3 Eggs
1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract
1 cup granulated Sugar
1 ¼ cup All-Purpose Flour
¼ teaspoon Baking Soda
½ teaspoon ground Cinnamon
1- 10 ounce bag Miniature Marshmallows
3 Hershey Bars
8 Graham Crackers, broken into small pieces
Preheat oven to 350
In a large bowl, mix the butter and chocolate chips.
Melt in microwave.
Stir in vanilla and eggs.
Add sugar, flour, baking soda, and cinnamon.
Stir until it is well combined.
Pour into a greased 9x13 baking pan.
Bake for 20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
Allow to cool for a few minutes and spread the marshmallows over the top.
Broil for just a few minutes until marshmallows are browned.
Allow to cool before serving.