The Language of Shared Meals

A study of biblical banquets, dinners and other shared food can enrich our understanding of something we already know is meaningful and memorable.

If you think back over your life and your relationships with other people, you will probably find that some of your most memorable moments have been sharing meals with others. What is so special and satisfying about sharing a meal with others? Is there something more to it than just the satisfaction of consuming food in the company of others? Though it seems like a simple subject, the Bible actually has much to say about sharing meals with others and shows that it has greater importance than just eating.

Some meals mark a person as special

Today, on a corporate level, shared meals often translate into business lunches or perhaps banquets, where promotions are celebrated.

• Saul’s promotion

Interestingly, there is an account of just such a meal in the Bible, and it had to do with the appointing of the first king of Israel. Samuel’s life was drawing to a close, and as if he hadn’t faced enough challenges along the way, he still had to deal with a very thorny issue. His wayward sons, whom he had designated as judges, proved themselves so dishonest and perverted in their judgment that the elders of Israel demanded a drastic change. They wanted a king!

Samuel tried to reason with them, warning of the consequences; but they would have none of it. God responded by giving them what they demanded (1 Samuel 8:22). Through an interesting series of events, Saul was selected.

Before Saul’s actual anointing and confirmation as king, he was invited to share a meal with Samuel and 30 other guests, no doubt distinguished leaders of the city. It was an exceptional occasion. Samuel had Saul seated in the chief seat and served the choicest cut of meat (probably from the portion reserved for Samuel himself). By this action, Samuel was publicly honoring the soon-to-be-king (1 Samuel 9).

• A favored brother

Most regular Bible readers are familiar with the story of Joseph—of his brothers’ treachery and his subsequent rise to power in Egypt. There is one scene where the brothers came to him in Egypt. Joseph’s true identity was yet unknown to them; however, he immediately recognized them and maneuvered to have his little brother, Benjamin, brought to Egypt. When at last Joseph saw Benjamin, he could barely suppress his deep emotions and called for a meal. He seated his brothers according to their birth order and served them what was surely a sumptuous meal. But all watched as Benjamin, the youngest, was served five times more than any other guest! The Jamieson, Fausset and Brown Commentary notes, “The degree of respect shown consists in the quantity; and while the ordinary rule of distinction is a double portion, it must have appeared to be a very distinguished mark of favour bestowed on Benjamin to have no less than five times any of his brothers” (note on Genesis 43:34).

• A favored wife

Year after year Hannah had hoped for a child, only to watch in frustration as Peninnah had baby after baby. Hannah’s deep sense of discouragement was only made worse by the taunting of her very fertile adversary, who was well aware of Hannah’s vulnerability and made the most of it.

A barren womb will not be satisfied—but Hannah’s husband, Elkanah, was desperate to try. During the family’s yearly journey to Shiloh to worship and sacrifice, Elkanah showed his love the only way he could think of. Matthew Henry’s Commentary on 1 Samuel 1:1-8, says, “At the feast he [Elkanah] offered peace-offerings, to supplicate for peace in his family; and when he and his family were to eat their share of the sacrifice … though he carved to Peninnah and her children competent portions, yet to Hannah he gave a worthy portion, the choicest piece that came to the table, the piece … that used to be given on such occasion to those that were most valued; this he did in token of his love to her, and to give all possible assurances of it.”

Meals shared can become markers of identity

All of the holy days listed in Leviticus 23 are called feasts of the Lord. The very first one mentioned is the Sabbath, and it is not uncommon to share a special meal at its onset. The Sabbath itself is considered a sign (Exodus 31:12-17), and incorporated into its celebration is food.

• Teaching with food

God used the miraculous food of manna to teach the foundational principle of preparing for the Sabbath. Note the instructions found in Exodus 16:23-26: “Then he said to them, ‘This is what the LORD has said: “Tomorrow is a Sabbath rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD. Bake what you will bake today, and boil what you will boil; and lay up for yourselves all that remains, to be kept until morning.”’ So they laid it up till morning, as Moses commanded; and it did not stink, nor were there any worms in it. Then Moses said, ‘Eat that today, for today is a Sabbath to the LORD; today you will not find it in the field. Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will be none.’”

Another of the holy days has a specific kind of food as its physical center point—the Days of Unleavened Bread. During these days only bread without any leavening is to be eaten. Believers who share meals during this time are easily identified by this unique feature of what they eat.

• Clean and holy

Another feature of meals shared by believers is that only “clean” foods are served. When dining out individually, believers can quietly adhere to the food laws found in Leviticus 11 without attracting any attention. But when they eat out in a restaurant as a group, it becomes obvious to the wait staff that there is something quite different about these diners.

It also signals to God that this is a group committed to His instructions: “For I am the LORD your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy. Neither shall you defile yourselves with any creeping thing that creeps on the earth. For I am the LORD who brings you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. ‘This is the law of the animals and the birds and every living creature that moves in the waters, and of every creature that creeps on the earth, to distinguish between the unclean and the clean, and between the animal that may be eaten and the animal that may not be eaten’” (Leviticus 11:44-47).

Shared meals matter

The enduring language of shared meals—gatherings that communicate common goals; that signal love, honor and respect; that serve to identify collective beliefs and holiness—is a sort of lingua franca “spoken” by believers through all ages to this very day. The only way it will ever die is from lack of use. Shared meals matter!

Consider studying further into the topic of shared meals in the Bible. For instance, you might study New Testament examples of shared meals. Some are teaching moments involving miracles; some are intimate meals shared by Jesus and the apostles; and some illustrate how the fledgling New Testament Church shared and built a strong sense of community.

To learn more about the importance of spending quality time with brethren of like mind, read our article on fellowship.