Now therefore what is under thine hand? give me five loaves of bread in mine hand, or what there is present.
The request belongs to the flight of David from Saul told in 1 Samuel 18-22, when David in fear of pursuit came to Ahimelech and asked for bread. He asked for five loaves in his hand, or whatever was present, because he was hungry and needed food to satisfy his hunger. His companions with him were hungry as well and in need of food. The only bread on hand was hallowed bread, the sacred shewbread ordinarily reserved for priests. That bread was given to him, and he ate it and shared it with his companions.
His urgent hunger and exceptional need made the act guiltless and excused it. Meeting human need in the service of God may take precedence over ceremonial restrictions, and exceptional circumstance can justify using what is ordinarily set apart for another purpose. Christ used David's case to defend His own hungry disciples when they plucked grain on the Sabbath, showing their action was lawful. Their hunger showed that the Sabbath was given for people's good and benefit, not as a burden upon them. Yet the feeding of David with the showbread does not excuse carelessness or laxity in giving tithe.
The request belongs to the flight of David from Saul told in 1 Samuel 18-22, when David in fear of pursuit came to Ahimelech and asked for bread. He asked for five loaves in his hand, or whatever was present, because he was hungry and needed food to satisfy his hunger. His companions with him were hungry as well and in need of food. The only bread on hand was hallowed bread, the sacred shewbread ordinarily reserved for priests. That bread was given to him, and he ate it and shared it with his companions.
His urgent hunger and exceptional need made the act guiltless and excused it. Meeting human need in the service of God may take precedence over ceremonial restrictions, and exceptional circumstance can justify using what is ordinarily set apart for another purpose. Christ used David's case to defend His own hungry disciples when they plucked grain on the Sabbath, showing their action was lawful. Their hunger showed that the Sabbath was given for people's good and benefit, not as a burden upon them. Yet the feeding of David with the showbread does not excuse carelessness or laxity in giving tithe.