The Bread Of The Presence

For a tent was prepared, the first section, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence. It is called the Holy Place. Hebrews 9:2 (English Standard Version, ESV) emphasis mine

The bread of the Presence refers to the table of shewbread in the Holy Place of the Lord’s tabernacle and later the temple. The priests would eat the bread in the Holy Place. How does this apply to New Testament believers?

As we feed on the Word of God, which is to be our daily bread, we can actually feed on God’s presence. God and His Word are one, so the more we feed on the Word, spending time with God, the more we experience God’s presence in our lives.

I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. John 6:51 (KJV)

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:14 (KJV)

Jesus is the Bread that came down from heaven. He is the Bread of the Presence. We partake of His body, the bread, and His blood, the wine, by faith. He is the Word of God. The Word and bread are the same. As we partake of the Word, we partake of the Bread of Life. In so doing, we enter the very presence of God. Only the Bread of Life can satisfy us. Our true fulfillment and satisfaction come only through the presence of God.

To obtain more of God’s presence, simply feed more on His Word. The deeper we go in God’s Word, the deeper God can take us into His presence. As you spend time in God’s presence through time in His Word, you will be filled with more and more of God.