Our Lord, when residing in Palestine, led His followers from village to village. There He healed the sick and preached the gospel of the Kingdom. He spent much time in prayer. On one Sabbath day while walking in a grain field His followers became hungry, and, as was permitted by land owners, broke off the husks and ate the grain. The lawyers of Judaism had interpreted the law, “remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy” as forbidding breaking off the husks. They accused Jesus’ disciples of breaking the law.
Jesus responded by reminding them of a time when their former beloved King David with his little army. while hungry and hunted by King Saul with the army of Israel. ate the bread used in worship of Jehovah. This bread could only be eaten by priests. Thus Jesus , drawing from an Old Testament prophetic picture (called a “type”), brings it to a comparison to Himself and His followers. Luke 6:1-5. The fulfillment of the prophetic picture is called an “anti-type”; here it is with an interesting application to you and me as Christians.
David, Jesus’ ancestor was the rightful and anointed king of Israel, but not accepted at this particular time. Holding office was King Saul, rejected by God because of his disobedience, Saul was jealous of David and hunted him to kill him. David, as Christ has taught (Matt.5:5), did not assert himself but waited God’s time. One soon coming day Saul was killed in battle and David was accepted king over all Israel; and His followers, during his rejection, were rewarded.
Jesus Christ is rightful king of all, but now not accepted by the majority and rulers of this world. He and His followers suffer at the hands of the devil, Satan, the god of this world, and Satan’s people, the majority. Soon to come and at God’s time The Lord Jesus will come in judgment and every knee will bow, in heaven, in earth, and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord (Jehovah) to the glory of God the Father. Phil. 2:10-11.
We who follow Jesus now while He is rejected, will then rule and reign with Him. He has made us a kingdom of priests ( Rev.1:5-7). Going back to the type, it was the distressed of Israel that made up David’s army and followed him during his rejection. 1 Sam.22:2. Now it is those of us who are distressed by our sins and not satisfied with Satan’s rule who have gone to Jesus as His followers. We are His army. Eph. 6:10-18. You will notice while reading this Scripture on our battles that the emphasis is on prayer. In times of national stress facing us, can you and I give ourselves to praying daily to bring God’s righteousness to victory? It has been said that Satan trembles when he sees the weakest of Christ’s followers on his or her knees in prayer.
In David’s time it was only the born priest that had the right to eat the daily bread used in the worship of Jehovah. Now we who have been born again by the Holy Spirit into God’s priesthood and family have the right to this bread , a type of Jesus’ Body; He who bore away our sins in His Body on the cross. We feed on him in faith every day. Praise God.
