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THE LAST PRIEST. I Samuel 22:20-23. 7/19/20. PM. #72.
I Samuel 22:20-23 [New King James Version]
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.”
- David’s regret
- Abiathar is the only priest who escapes Saul’s wrath
- Doeg the Edomite chief shepherd of Saul’s flocks executes 85 priests and their entire families
- Saul’s guards had refused to kill the priests
- Abiathar runs to David and tells him what had happened
- David acknowledges that it was his fault that the priests and their entire families had died
- I Samuel 21:1-7 David had fled from Saul and stopped at the tabernacle in Nob for provisions
- David lied to High Priest as to why he was traveling
- David claimed to be on an urgent mission
- David’s lie brought him bread and a sword
- David knew that Doeg was listening and plotting
- Convenience to David was death to God’s priests
- Nob was near Gibeah where David’s home was
- David never considered that lying to the High Priest in the tabernacle would be a problem
- Often we take short cuts and would be able “to get by” with our sleight indiscretions
- David’s miscalculation cost at least 200 people their lives
- David continued on with his plan even though Doeg was present (Doeg would betray him)
- David did not consider that if Saul tried to kill his son, he would not regard the priests either
- David focused only on his immediate need
- There are times when deception is necessary to fight evil
- The midwives who saved the Hebrew male babies
- Rahab who protected the Hebrew spies
- God who instructs Samuel to withhold from Saul the real reason for going to Bethlehem
- To lie to someone who deserves the truth is a sin
- The High Priest did not need to be brought into David’s dilemma
- Aachen owed Joshua the truth; Sarah owed God the truth; Gehazi owed Elisha the truth
- The blood of the priests and their families = on David’s hands
- David did not kill the priests; Saul did
- David did not betray the priests; Doeg did
- David’s actions allowed the priests to be killed
- Carelessness is recognized as a criminal act
- Exodus 21:33 a man who digs a pit and does not cover it is guilty of harm done to those who fall into it
- All acts committed by a drunk are culpable
- We cause harm via lies of convenience and thoughtless acts
- Is a deception necessary for a higher purpose?
- Is a deception only useful for my convenience?
- Abiathar is the only priest who escapes Saul’s wrath
- Abiathar’s tragic life
- Abiathar loses all his family due in part to David’s lie
- Abiathar becomes High Priest
- As predicted in 1 Samuel 1-2, Abiathar, 4th generation from Eli, was deposed by Solomon (Zadok becomes priest)
- Mole hill to mountain decisions
- Often small indiscretions become major problems (Aachen’s theft, Saul’s sparing Agag, Solomon’s marriages, …)
- Deceptions of convenience bring ill results (Galatians 6:9)
- Lack of total obedience brings tragic results (I Kings 13)
- Once the results of deception bear fruit, it can’t be reclaimed
- The immediate benefit is not worth the cost
- We are known by the level of our integrity