Text 2741, 363 rader
Skriven 2010-11-10 17:19:16 av Greg Goodwin (1:123/789.0)
Ärende: LESSON 7 - Abiathar: The Priest
=======================================
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.

--- Thunderbird 2.0.0.24 (Macintosh/20100228)
 * Origin: Fidonet Via Newsreader - http://www.easternstar.info (1:123/789.0)