The Bread, The Flesh, And The Wine
I Chronicles 16:1-3 — “So they brought the ark of God, and set it in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it: and they offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings before God. And when David had made an end of offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD. And he dealt to every one of Israel, both man and woman, to every one a loaf of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine.”
David was now king over all Israel. He had been anointed king over Judah only first, and then seven years later he was finally anointed king over all Israel.
The first task as king of a united Israel was to bring the ark of God home to its rightful place of abode.
THE ARK OF GOD
The ark of God was symbolic of Israel’s power, strength, and glory. The ark represented the very presence of God. As the presence of God was Israel’s strength, so today the strength of the church is the presence of God. Without the presence of God, the church is nothing more than a religious gathering that will accomplish nothing for the work of God or for the needs of the people.
The Holy Spirit in I Chronicles 16:1 states:“They offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings before God.” This is something that one must not gloss over but pay very careful attention to for the burnt sacrifices and peace offerings were no doubt whole burnt offerings and, as stated, peace offerings—all of which typified Calvary. This tells us that without the Cross, you can’t have the presence of God, for it is through Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary’s Cross by which the Holy Spirit is able to work.
Calvary is the foundation of Christianity. We must never take that great truth lightly. For every benefit we have as believers comes to us only through Calvary.
Actually, in II Samuel 6:13, it states that when David brought the ark to Jerusalem that the priests who bore the ark on their shoulders would stop every six paces (about 18 feet) and offer up sacrifice and then David offered up sacrifices.
This tells us that the way into the Holy City was a way of blood. The stained streets of Zion, the rivers of blood, the slaughtered heaps and the blaze of altar fires would appear excessive to the carnal mind. However, to the spiritually-minded it portrays the sacrifice paid by Jesus Christ on Calvary’s Cross. All of these animals, offered up in great abundance, state the great price paid for our redemption. The blood of animals was a stopgap measure to cover man’s sin.
Hebrews 10:4 says: “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sin.” But John, upon seeing Jesus, would say, “Behold the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).
Let me say it again: Every benefit afforded to the believer only comes to us through the blood of Jesus Christ. Therefore, the emphasis of all ministry and faith must be placed on the Cross, not just for salvation but also for sanctification.
DAVID BLESSED THE PEOPLE IN THE NAME OF THE LORD
We will see in this in this act the proof of the fact that all blessings come to us through and by the means of the Cross of Christ. Let me stress this truth even more: Every single thing that you need comes through the Cross. Healing comes through the Cross. Joy and peace come through the Cross. Prosperity comes through the Cross. Victory comes through the Cross.
The text bears it out; David blessed the people with the following:
- A loaf of bread. The bread was a type of Christ. In John 6:35, Jesus said, “I am the Bread of Life, he who comes to Me shall never hunger; and he who believes on me shall never thirst.”
- A good piece of flesh. This speaks of Christ’s perfect body—without sin—offered up on Calvary’s Cross. II Corinthians 5:21 says: “For He (God) has made Him (Christ) to be sin for us (the Greek says ‘sin offering’) Who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”
- A flagon of wine. This speaks of the joy of the Lord, which comes to us when we give our hearts to the Lord.
The bread, the flesh, and the wine all represent Jesus Christ. Therefore, the blessing is Jesus Christ. There is no greater blessing for humanity than the bread, the flesh, the wine—Jesus Christ.
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