Holy Bread

"Holy Bread"

ruminations of 1 Samuel 21:1-6 and

2 Timothy 2:21-22
- - -

Hungry, hunted

Alone, in need,

"O Priest! have you five loaves for me?"

"I have, but 'tis

Of holy make

For holy vessels--men stainless, meet."

"In glorious march,

Or journey plain,

For all my men 'tis one the same!

"Kept free of sin--

Pure and holy

Consecrated, serving wholly.

"So on this day

When need is great,

Much confession I need not make.

"These hands are clean,

My heart is right,

In holy bread, I may delight."

Priest gave the bread

And too, a sword

To David, chosen of the Lord.

- - -

And so to you

The offer stands

Of holy bread and sword in hand.

Not because

Of your own deeds--

It's not your work to cleansing leads.

But on the cross

The High Priest bled

And fed you with His holy Bread.

To clean the vessel:

Body, soul.

In word and deed, to make you whole.

So that you

Before Him be

Soldiers, holy, chosen, clean.

In glorious march,

Or journey plain,

Found in Him without a stain.

Defending truth

With Truth's own sword

No more in need, fed by the Word.