LESSON 7   
   November 6 - 12   
   Abiathar: The Priest   
      
   SABBATH AFTERNOON   
      
   Read for This Week's Study:   
      
   Exod. 28:6, 39:2-7, 1 Sam. 21:1-9, 22:6-23, 2 Sam. 15:13-29.   
      
   Memory Text:   
      
   "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a   
   people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who   
   called you out of darkness into his wonderful light" (1 Peter 2:9, NIV).   
      
   Priests played a very important role in the life and history of Israel.   
   And not just in Israel, but in the surrounding nations, as well. In   
   Mesopotamian culture, the king was considered a priest; thus, he   
   combined both political and religious power. Priestly guilds represented   
   powerful interests at the court, and there are many instances where   
   priests were king-makers. In the Old Testament especially, the role of   
   the priesthood was central to the life of faith of Israel. Sacred   
   history shows the influential roles of the priests in New Testament   
   times, as well.   
      
   The priesthood of all believers (1 Pet. 2:9), an idea that came to   
   prominence in the Protestant Reformation, is not entirely a New   
   Testament concept (see Exod. 19:66 And you shall be to Me a kingdom of   
   priests and a holy nation.' These are the words which you shall speak to   
   the  children of Israel." ). It seems always to have been God's ideal   
   that believers would be holy and serve others by interceding for them   
   and by communicating the plan of salvation.   
      
   This week we'll look at Abiathar's story, which gives us some important   
   glimpses into the Old Testament priesthood and tells us that priesthood   
   is not based just on pedigree or education but on personal commitment to   
   the Lord. As in the case of Abiathar, wrong choices can disqualify a   
   member of the priesthood.   
      
   *Study this week's lesson to prepare for Sabbath, November 13.   
   SUNDAY   
   November 7   
      
   Lies and Tragedy   
      
   Read 1 Samuel 21:1-91 Now David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest.   
   And Ahimelech was  afraid when he met David, and said to him, "Why are   
   you alone, and no one is with you?"   
   2 So David said to Ahimelech the priest, "The king has ordered me on   
   some business, and said to me, 'Do not let anyone know anything about   
   the business on which I send you, or what I have commanded you.' And I   
   have directed my young men to such and such a place. 3 Now therefore,   
   what have you on hand? Give me five loaves of bread in my hand, or   
   whatever can be found."   
   4 And the priest answered David and said, "There is no common bread on   
   hand; but there is holy bread, if the young men have at least kept   
   themselves from women."   
   5 Then David answered the priest, and said to him, "Truly, women have   
   been kept from us about three days since I came out. And the vessels of   
   the young men are holy, and the bread is in effect common, even though   
   it was consecrated in the vessel this  day."   
   6 So the priest gave him holy bread; for there was no bread there but   
   the showbread which had been taken from before the LORD, in order to put   
   hot bread in its place on the day when it was taken away.   
   7 Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained   
   before the LORD. And his name was Doeg, an Edomite, the chief of the   
   herdsmen who belonged to Saul.   
   8 And David said to Ahimelech, "Is there not here on hand a spear or a   
   sword? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me,   
   because the king's business required haste."   
   9 So the priest said, "The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you   
   killed in the Valley of Elah, there it is, wrapped in a cloth behind the   
   ephod. If you will take that, take it. For there is no other except that   
   one here."   
   And David said, "There is none like it; give it to me." and 1 Samuel   
   22:6-23 6 When Saul heard that David and the men who were with him had   
   been discovered--now Saul was staying in Gibeah under a tamarisk tree in   
   Ramah, with his spear in his hand, and all his servants standing about   
   him--  7 then Saul said to his servants who stood about him, "Hear now,   
   you Benjamites! Will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and   
   vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands and captains of   
   hundreds? 8 All of you have conspired against me, and there is no one   
   who reveals to me that my son has made a covenant with the son of Jesse;   
   and there is not one of you who is sorry for me or reveals to me that my   
   son has stirred up my servant  against me, to lie in wait, as it is this   
   day."   
   9 Then answered Doeg the Edomite, who was set over the servants of Saul,   
   and said, "I saw the son of Jesse going to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of   
   Ahitub. 10 And he inquired of the LORD for him, gave him provisions, and   
   gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine."   
   11 So the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and   
   all his father's house, the priests who were in Nob. And they all came   
   to the king. 12 And Saul said, "Hear now, son of Ahitub!"   
   He answered, "Here I am, my lord."   
   13 Then Saul said to him, "Why have you conspired against me, you and   
   the son of  Jesse, in that you have given him bread and a sword, and   
   have inquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in   
   wait, as it is this day?"   
   14 So Ahimelech answered the king and said, "And who among all your   
   servants is as faithful as David, who is the king's son-in-law, who goes   
   at your bidding, and is honorable in your house? 15 Did I then begin to   
   inquire of God for him? Far be it from me! Let not the king impute   
   anything to his  servant, or to any in the house of my father. For your   
   servant knew nothing of all this, little or much."   
   16 And the king said, "You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your   
   father's house!" 17 Then the king said to the guards who stood about   
   him, "Turn and kill the priests of the LORD, because their hand also is   
   with David, and because they knew when he fled and did not tell it to   
   me." But the servants of the king would not lift their  hands to strike   
   the priests of the LORD. 18 And the king said to Doeg, "You turn and   
   kill the priests!" So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck the priests,   
   and killed on that day eighty-five men who wore a linen ephod. 19 Also   
   Nob, the city of the priests, he struck with the edge of the sword, both   
   men and women, children and nursing infants, oxen and donkeys and   
   sheep--with the edge of the sword.   
   20 Now one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar,   
   escaped and fled after David. 21 And Abiathar told David that Saul had   
   killed the LORD's priests. 22 So David said to Abiathar, "I knew that   
   day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely  tell Saul. I   
   have caused the death of all the persons of your father's house. 23 Stay   
   with me; do not fear. For he who seeks my life seeks your life, but with   
   me you shall be safe."and answer the following questions:   
      
   What lie did David tell to Ahimelech about why he was there?   
      
   What happened to Ahimelech as a result of his trust in David?   
      
   How did Saul seek to turn his own men against David? What kind of   
   argument did he use?   
      
   How does Ahimelech respond to Saul regarding the character and   
   faithfulness of David?   
      
   What does this story tell us about just how fallen and degenerate and   
   vengeful King Saul has become?   
      
   Why do you think Doeg, a foreigner, would do what the servants of Saul   
   refused to do?   
      
   How does David respond to the news of the massacre? In what ways was his   
   response correct?   
      
   What promise does David make to the one son of Ahimelech who managed to   
   escape the slaughter?   
   Look at the contrast in this story between honor and dishonor,   
   faithfulness and faithlessness. Look at the havoc wreaked from   
   dishonesty and sin. What kind of moral questions are you facing right   
   now; what kind of moral choices must you make? Think through the   
   consequences of your actions before you take them.   
   MONDAY   
   November 8   
      
   Abiathar, the Priest   
      
   We're not told how Abiathar escaped the slaughter of his family. We're   
   told only that he escaped and made his way to David. However, before   
   fleeing, Abiathar managed to save the ephod (see 1 Sam. 23:6), one of   
   the most important objects of priesthood (a sacred vestment worn by the   
   priests; see Exod. 28:6; 39:2-7), which was used to seek God's will when   
    making decisions. On at least two occasions, the biblical author   
   reports that David called for Abiathar and the ephod (1 Sam. 23:9-12;   
   30:7, 8).   
      
   In contrast to many of us today, the people in Abiathar's days had   
   little access to God's Written Word. There were only a few handwritten   
   copies of the book of the law (the Pentateuch), so most people had   
   little opportunity to study the Word of God for themselves. Most of us   
   are privileged to have access to the Bible for ourselves. God has   
   promised to give us the Holy Spirit to explain the Word to us,   
   personally and collectively (John 14:26). God also uses people to give   
   us godly advice (Prov. 20:18) and works through circumstances, too (Rom.   
   8:28).   
      
   What were some of the functions of Abiathar when he was priest? 1 Sam.   
   23:9-13, 2 Sam. 15:24, 17:15-22.   
      
   Besides functioning in these roles, Abiathar had experienced personal   
   trauma and, like David, he was a homeless refugee--which somehow prepared   
   him even better to serve the future king of Israel, who was also   
   constantly on the run. He could understand the frustrations, fears, and   
   betrayals that David and his men must have often felt in the face of   
   continued persecution.   
      
   This motif of personal identification with a person or a group of people   
   is important in the New Testament's concept of priesthood. The author of   
   Hebrews tells us that Jesus can be our High Priest because He fully can   
   empathize with us (Heb. 2:17).   
   Read 1 Peter 2:9. The New Testament clearly teaches that all of us have   
   the responsibilities of priests in our communities. Ours is no   
   self-calling. Jesus said: " 'You did not choose me, but I chose you and   
   appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father   
   will give you whatever you ask in my name' " (John 15:16, NIV). God's   
   calling to us does not make us into Old Testament priests or New   
   Testament apostles but challenges us to intercede for our families,   
   communities, and all those around us. How  can you better serve in the   
   role of "priest"?   
   TUESDAY   
   November 9   
      
   Absalom's Revolt   
      
   Second Samuel 15-18 tells the sad story of Absalom, David's son who   
   revolted against his father's rule. At one point, Absalom's army is on   
   its way to Jerusalem. This must have been a nightmare for Abiathar.   
   David has decided to flee rather than turn Jerusalem into a battlefield   
   and cause a bloodbath. All of David's faithful followers prepare to flee   
   with him. Abiathar must have remembered his flight after the massacre of   
   his family and village under King Saul. He gets ready to leave with David.   
      
   Read 2 Samuel 15:13-29. What does this passage teach us about the   
   character of David, even at this time of peril? What role does Abiathar   
   play in this episode?   
      
   Taking the ark of God, Abiathar and priests prepare to leave the city,   
   but David orders that the ark stay. David has learned that carrying the   
   symbol of God's presence does not necessarily mean that God is with you.   
   Wearing a cross, displaying a religious slogan, or keeping a set of   
   rules does not guarantee God's presence or compliance. God cannot be   
   manipulated. The ark was to stay where it belonged. Leaving the ark   
   there was also an act of faith on David's part. He trusted that God   
   would save him and bring him back to Jerusalem once again.   
      
   The ark of God is set down, and Abiathar offers sacrifices (2 Sam.   
   15:24) until all the people have finished leaving the city. In this   
   particular moment, the priests, Abiathar and Zadok, become intercessors   
   for David and his people.   
      
   The story of David's intelligence network makes for exciting reading (2   
   Sam. 17:15-29). Abiathar and Zadok become David's eyes and ears in the   
   city. Abiathar's and Zadok's sons wait for word outside Jerusalem.   
   People are not what they seem to be. An unsuspicious female servant   
   brings the message out to the young men. A young lad innocently standing   
   around proves bright enough to figure out what is going on and tells   
   Absalom. The priests' sons are chased by Absalom's men and find a   
   sympathizer and climb into a well. A woman makes things appear what they   
   are not by throwing a cloth over the well and sprinkling grain over the   
   top, reminiscent of Rahab's method of hiding the two spies under flax   
   stalks (Josh. 2:6).   
      
   In our own context, things are often not what they seem, either. Many an   
   aching heart is hidden by a smile. As Christ's followers, we are called   
   to be His representatives. We become God's hands to reach out to those   
   around us. We must be open and sensitive in order to look beyond   
   appearances and see people and situations for what they really are, and   
   we must be willing to sacrifice of ourselves to help.   
      
   WEDNESDAY   
   November 10   
      
   Abiathar's Choice   
      
   We have no record of Abiathar's personal opinions, politics, or   
   religious views. Everything that he says is recorded as God's Word to   
   David. But his actions speak louder than words. Even though he is not   
   recorded as saying anything, just being there makes a powerful statement.   
      
   In the time of David, the firstborn son was traditionally considered his   
   father's main heir. For a king, that would mean that the firstborn son   
   would inherit the throne. God is, however, never bound by tradition. As   
   a matter of fact, during the history of Israel He often overlooked   
   firstborns to call others, sometimes by divine decrees and sometimes by   
   the circumstances and choices of the firstborn themselves (See Gen.   
   4:1-5, 21:8-12, 25:21-36, 48:8-19, 1 Sam. 16:6-12).   
      
   Read 1 Kings 1:1-8. What could have caused Abiathar, who had been so   
   loyal to David, to do what he did here?   
      
      
      
   Solomon was not the oldest son and so by custom would not normally have   
   succeeded his father as king. The oldest son, Amnon, had been killed by   
   his brother Absalom. Absalom, in turn, had been killed during his   
   unsuccessful coup attempt. And now the fourth oldest son, Adonijah, felt   
   that the throne was rightfully his. Adonijah conferred with Joab and   
   Abiathar, and they gave him their support (1 Kings 1:7).   
      
   Solomon was younger than Adonijah and had a shameful family background.   
   His mother was none other than Bathsheba, the former wife of Uriah the   
   Hittite, who was murdered in order to cover David's affair with   
   Bathsheba. But in spite of his shameful background, Solomon was loved by   
   God (2 Sam. 12:24), and it was clear that God had chosen him to be   
   David's successor (1 Chron. 22:9, 10). In the face of this uncomfortable   
   choice, it may be that Abiathar could not reconcile himself with the   
   public scandal that the choice would cause, and so he falls back on   
   tradition as opposed to God's revealed will.   
      
   Tradition can be very comfortable, as it saves us from taking   
   responsibility to think things through in the light of God's revealed   
   will. It is much easier and "safer" just to say, "We've always done it   
   like this."   
   How often do we let tradition get in the way of God's leading? At the   
   same time, why must we be careful not to judge things automatically as   
   mere "tradition" and then brush them off?   
   THURSDAY   
   November 11   
      
   Abiathar's Fate   
      
   After the death of David and the ascension of Solomon to the throne,   
   certain issues needed to be resolved. After Adonijah was put to death (1   
   Kings 2:13-25), there was still the issue of Abiathar the priest, who   
   had so faithfully served Solomon's father. What was to be done with him   
   for his part in the insurrection against Solomon?   
      
   Read 1 Kings 2:26, 27. How does Solomon deal with Abiathar, and what   
   reasons does he give?   
      
   A superficial reading of the verse may give the impression that Abiathar   
   is dismissed because of a prophecy made to Eli over a hundred years   
   before (1 Sam. 2:30-36). But really what we have here is a demonstration   
   of the way God knows our future free choices. God knows what free   
   choices we and our descendants will make, and so He is able to prophesy   
   the future. God knew that just as Eli's sons disqualified themselves   
   from the priestly office by their behavior, their descendant, Abiathar,   
   also would disqualify himself from the priestly office by being   
   unwilling to accept God's  choices.   
      
   Read Matthew 26:14-16, 20-25. Explain this prediction in the light of   
   Abiathar's demotion from the priesthood. What similar principle is   
   operating in both cases?   
      
      
      
   The fact that Jesus knew all along that Judas would betray him did not   
   cause Jesus to push Judas away. Judas was included in the inner circle   
   of the Twelve. He experienced the power of God firsthand. But Judas,   
   like Abiathar, was not prepared to accept God's will. It seems that he   
   also shared with Abiathar some ideas about kingship and how   
      
   issues of power and control should be handled. Judas wanted to see Jesus   
   crowned king of an earthly kingdom. Frustrated, he turned to the   
   traditional leaders, the scribes and Pharisees, and betrayed his true King.   
      
   Divine foreknowledge does not automatically translate into divine   
   predestination. People have choices, as did Judas and Abiathar. God's   
   foreknowledge of these choices doesn't limit our freedom in making them.   
      
   Free choice is one of the most sacred gifts God has given us. It came   
   with a great cost, too: the death of Jesus on the Cross. (Had we not   
   been given free choice, we could not have chosen to sin, and Jesus would   
   not have died for us.) How carefully do you think through and pray   
   through the decisions you make?   
   FRIDAY   
   November 12   
      
   Further Study:   
      
      
   "God has chosen you for a great and solemn work. He has been seeking to   
   discipline, to test, to prove you, to refine and ennoble you, that this   
   sacred work may be done with a single eye to His glory which belongs   
   wholly to God. What a thought that God chooses a man and brings him into   
   close connection with Himself, and gives him a mission to undertake, a   
   work to do, for Him. A weak man is made strong, a timid man is made   
   brave, the irresolute becomes a man of firm and quick decision. What! is   
   it possible that man is of so much consequence as to receive a   
   commission from the King of kings! Shall worldly ambition allure from   
   the sacred trust, the holy commission?"--Ellen G. White, Selected   
   Messages, book 2, p.  167.   
      
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