Law 101. It actually was not unlawful to pluck a head of grain on the Sabbath. God commanded that His people rest every seventh day, and Moses specified that no fire be lit in its observance, so the Jews prepared their Shabbat food ahead of time. There was also ceremonial law that prohibited stuff, all of which fell into three main categories: no food prep, no making clothes or leather, and no building things.

But "no plucking" wasn't on any list. Leave it to the religious leaders to require more of the people than God di, at the expense of the Law's purpose. God wanted the Jews to rest because they spent their days doing physical labor, and the work was never done-- for goodness' sake, they walked in the desert for forty years pulling their homes behind them. So they required rest wasn't for His sake but theirs, just as parents force exhausted little ones to take naps.

Back to the story.

And [Jesus] said to them, "Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God ... and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him? (Mark 2:25-26)

History 101. In Old Testament times, the house of God (known as the tabernacle) was the place where God dwelled in the form of a cloud or pillar of fire. Besides His presence, there were only a few other things in the tent's two rooms. 

First, a golden lampstand, made of solid gold and weighing seventy-five pounds, had six arms (think candelabra or menorah) with mini-lamps that burned continuously as the only source of light. Next, on the altar of incense--made from acacia wood, covered with gold, and standing three feet high--a special concoction burned twice a day. Finally, a small ornate table, also made from acacia wood and covered with gold, sat opposite the lampstand. On it the priests put twelve loaves of bread (think matzah or flatbread). The loaves were baked fresh and replaced each week, acknowledging God's constant presence with the Israelites--hence the name "bread of the Presence" (Exodus 25:30)

And all that to say, the daily rituals of lighting fires, burning incense, and baking bread were done to honor God's presence.

'Cause He was in the room.

Stick a pin in that.

Despite God's great favor toward David and his resulting victories on the battlefield, the guy could be a piece a work. He often let physical urges dictate his behavior, and this particular incident was no different. David was on King Saul's most wanted list, and he was tired, hungry, and on the run. So he racked up three violations:

1. David entered the house of God--a place where only priests were allowed to go.
2. David lied to the priest, telling him that he was on a secret mission from Saul. Nope.
3. David all but demanded to eat the bread of the Presence--food only priests were allowed to eat.

Ironically, the rule-obsessed Pharisees held David in the highest possible regard. But this new guy and His disciples with their heads-of-grain plucking--how dare they? As would become His habit, Jesus exposed the hypocrisy of their disgust and redirected the conversation to something far more disturbing.

To be continued.

PRAYER FOCUS

Ask God to reveal to you where you value rules over relationship.

MOVING FORWARD

• With all its pomp and circumstance, do you find talk of the tabernacle interesting or boring, and why?
• Imagine the room where God's presence dwelled, Imagine approaching the cloud or pillar of fire. How would standing in His presence, in that warm and quiet place, affect the way you view the requirements of the law?
• Now imagine walking with Jesus. Imagine the unrestricted access, the casual conversation, and the warmth of His personality. That's all ... just imagine.