Abiathar, the Priest

Abiathar, the Priest

The author of our lesson states that 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 (1 Samuel 23:6), one of the most important objects of priesthood (a sacred vestment worn by the priests; see Exodos 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 Samuel 23:9–12; 30:7, 8)

What is the ephod?

The ephod was a sacred linen garment worn by the high priests of Israel.  It was in two parts-one covering the back, one the front of the body to the hips-and was fastened at the shoulders by two clasps of onyx on which were engraved the 12 tribal names, six on each.  This probably symbolized that the tribes were to be their burden since they were on their shoulders.  The vestment was held in at the waist by a twined linen girdle of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet; on the ephod was the breastplate - with four rows of gemstone (totaling twelve – one per tribe) and with the Urim and Thummim - hung by golden chains and rings.  It is possible that since the twelve gemstones representing the 12 tribes of Israel were on the breastplate this then symbolized that Israel should be close to their hearts. 

What were the Urim and Thummim?

The Urim "lights" and Thummim "perfections" were gemstones that were carried by the High Priest of Israel on the ephod / priestly garments. They were used by the High Priest to determine God's will in some situations. Some propose that God would cause the Urim and Thummim to light up in varying patterns to reveal His decision. Others propose that the Urim and Thummim were kept in a pouch and were engraved with symbols identifying yes / no and true / false.

It is unclear whether the Urim and Thummim were on, by, or in the High Priest's ephod. No one knows the precise nature of the Urim and Thummim or exactly how they were used. The Bible simply does not give us enough information. References to the Urim and Thummim are rare in the Bible. They are first mentioned in the description of the breastplate of judgment (Exodus 28:30; Leviticus 8:8). When Joshua succeeded Moses as leader over Israel, he was to receive answers from God by means of the Urim through Eleazar the High Priest (Numbers 27:21). The Urim and Thummim are next mentioned in Moses' dying blessing upon Levi (Deuteronomy 33:8). The following Scripture likely also speak of the Urim and Thummim: Joshua 7:14-18; 1 Samuel 14:37-45; and 2 Samuel 21:1.

Abiathar escaped with this ephod providentially, in other words: by Divine design.  God used Abiathar and the ephod to speak to David.  David now had a way to know God's will himself.  God now had a way to speak to David, his persecuted chosen one.   According to Ellen White, "Still hunted by the king, David found no place of rest or security. At Keilah his brave band saved the town from capture by the Philistines, but they were not safe, even among the people whom they had delivered. From Keilah they repaired to the wilderness of Ziph" (Patriarchs and Prophets, page 660).  God saw that Abiathar and the ephod were available to David.  David was not left to run alone without any help.  What was meant for evil God worked for good. 

After a whole week of study we are left with not much knowledge about Abiathar.  Abiathar does not speak in the Holy record.  From the time he runs away to David all the way to when Solomon banished Abiathar to his house we do not know what motivates his actions.  Paul says in Romans 14:23 "… whatsoever is not of faith is sin."  If Abiathar's escape was motivated because he feared for his life and not because of faith in Jesus then to Abiathar it is Sin.  We do not truly know his heart. Being faithful to David cannot be taken as an assumption of loyalty toward God. 

We do know that at the end of his career Abiathar makes a choice.  He chooses a man God did not choose, which to God it is a rejection of Himself (1 Samuel 8:7).  This choice expresses what is in Abiathar heart already.  But, at what point, how and why did Abiathar switch loyalties we do not know.  Abiathar who was high Priest because he was Aaron's descendent, who for most of his life was entrusted to the precious ephod, now finds out that it takes more than lineage to serve God.  As Jesus told Nicodemus, "you must be born again" (John 3:3).  Could we be like Abiathar or even Nicodemus? 

--
Raul Diaz
www.wolfsoath.com

Commentary: Uriah the Martyred Light

Uriah: the Martyred Light

Light is electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength that is visible to
the human eye. It is perhaps because of this that our visual system
depends on this radiation to work. It is because of light that we can
see ourselves, where we are, what surrounds us, and where we are going.
(We can also see colors partly because of light.) Without light there
is darkness and night. Our vision is not equipped to work under those
circumstances effectively.

The Bible equates God's Word with light. David says in Psalm 119: 105,
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." However
the Apostle John goes a step further. We read in John 1: 4-9 (King James
Version)

John 1: 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

John 1: 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness
comprehended it not.

John 1: 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

John 1: 7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light,
that all men through him might believe.

John 1: 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that
Light.

John 1: 9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh
into the world.

John says Jesus is the Word, therefore the Light. This is something
Jesus said of Himself on several occasions (John 8:12; 9:5; 12:35;
12:46). When Nicodemus came to Jesus in the night Jesus told Him,

John 3:17-21 (King James Version)

John 3: 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the
world; but that the world through him might be saved.

John 3: 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that
believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the
name of the only begotten Son of God.

John 3: 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the
world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds
were evil.

John 3: 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither
cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

John 3: 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds
may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

Those who are in Sin, as David was in 2 Samuel 11, walk in darkness.
Those who walk as Uriah walked, walk in the Light. Now, just as Nabal
acted as his name - foolishly- Uriah acted as his. Uriah is a Hebrew
name that may mean: God is light, God is my light, The Lord is light,
light of the Lord, or my light is Jehovah. The meaning of the name is
derived from the prefix 'uri' meaning light, fire ; and the suffix 'ah'
meaning God, powerful. Uriah proved to be, by the grace of God, a man
of principle that frustrated David's scheme. Uriah showed him up badly.
David, who was once a man of integrity, now cannot seem to understand
Uriah's integrity.

We could argue that Uriah was a martyr. The light of God shone through
Uriah, exposing to David his Sin. David stood condemned, at that
moment, because he loved darkness rather than light, because his deeds
were evil, and Uriah's Light was a reproof to David. Uriah was killed
to shut off the light that exposed David's Sin. So, Uriah died because
of his unwavering belief in God. Do we have that kind of faith?

--
Raul Diaz
www.wolfsoath.com

Commentary: Jonathan and the fifth commandment

Jonathan and the Fifth Commandment

 

One day the scribes and Pharisees approached Jesus about an alleged bad habit the disciples had.  They asked Him, "Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread" (Matthew 15:2).  Context is needed to understand the question.  The Pharisees and Scribes had a ceremonial washing of hands.  This custom, although derived from scripture, was not scriptural.  It was something the Jewish Rabbi's had established. 

 

The fact that Jesus did not answer their question does not say that washing of hands is not needed.  Jesus made a point that the Jews put more stock on the doctrines of men, than the Word of God (Matthew 15:9).  To make the point Jesus told them that there practice of Corban was unbiblical.  What is Corban?  Jesus elaborated in Matthew 15: 3 – 6,

 

Mat15:3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?

Mat15:4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.

Mat15:5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;

Mat15:6 And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.

 

The Jews were basically saying to their parents "What you have done for me was a gift, I owe you nothing."  This implied that if the Jews came into some money they felt no obligation to give any to their parents.  They felt they were freed from caring for their parents.  Christ was very critical of this practice.  He said to the Jews,

 

Matthew 15:7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,

Matthew 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

Matthew 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

 

Jonathan stands in a great contrast to this practice.  Jonathan found a way to be loyal to both his dear friend David and his father: even, when Jonathan's father, Saul, hated David to death, literally.  Jonathan was not oblivious to his father's sinful ways.  Jonathan seemed to have followed how we interpret Paul's advice to the Romans about the government, "as long as they do not go against the law of God, submit to them."  When Saul insisted in wanting to kill David, Jonathan tried to appease his father.  The scripture records one such moment in 1 Samuel 19,

 

1 Samuel 19:4 And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good:

1 Samuel 19:5 For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?

1 Samuel 19:6 And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain.

 

Jonathan could have chosen to leave his father the King and go with David; but he did not.  Jonathan could have disrespected his father by raising his voice and speaking badly to him.  Jonathan was respectful and loving toward Saul.  He is an example to this generation of Christ likeness.  Jonathan is an example that in Christ we can overcome cultivated and inherited tendencies.  Ellen White says of Joshua,

 

"On the record of those who through self-abnegation have entered into the fellowship of Christ's sufferings, stand[s] … Jonathan … [He], by birth heir to the throne, yet knowing himself set aside by the divine decree; to his rival the most tender and faithful of friends, shielding David's life at the peril of his own; steadfast at his father's side through the dark days of his declining power, and at his side falling at the last—the name of Jonathan is treasured in heaven, and it stands on earth a witness to the existence and the power of unselfish love…" Ellen G. White, Education, pp. 156, 157.

 

I pray we heed Jonathan's example. 

 

 

 

 

--
Raul Diaz
www.wolfsoath.com

A Reason for Infertility

A Reason for Infertility

 Larry was a struggling colporteur who had too many books for sale and not enough customers.  One day, a friend of Larry's, Mr. Andrew, called asking if Larry had books on parenting for sale.  Apparently Mr. Andrew was friends with the Harold's, a married couple who were planning to adopt, and were looking to purchase some Christian parenting books. 

Remembering that he did indeed have some parenting books, Larry got the number from Mr. Andrew, and asked the Harold's to come by to view them.  Later that evening, the Harold's, having been thoroughly satisfied with their perusal of the books, ordered all of them.  Excited about the books along with their upcoming adoption plans, the couple told their story.  It seems that the Harold's had tried unsuccessfully for several years to have children, and now were days away from having their dream realized, through adoption.  They would finally be parents of a 3 day old baby boy.  Thrilled as only new parents-to-be can be, they promised to update Larry.

Six months later they called. "Larry, not only were the parenting books helpful, but we got our little boy, and -- we're now pregnant!"  It became apparent during the conversation that Mrs. Harold suspected that she might be pregnant when she met Larry to buy the books, but had decided not to entertain the idea, less she be disappointed once again.

How could Mrs. Harold be pregnant after all those years of trying unsuccessfully to conceive?  Larry's theory was that when Mr. and Mrs. Harold finally decided to adopt, the stress of trying to conceive was lifted, enabling Mrs. Harold to get pregnant.  Although Larry didn't know of any scientific evidence supporting his theory, he was sure his explanation was logical.

 Today, there is sufficient scientific evidence to prove that emotional and psychological stress can affect the body adversely.  Stress affects the brain by causing an influx of stress related hormones to flood the various systems of the body.  This includes the reproductive systems of both men and women.  These hormones often affect menstrual cycles and can affect the body's ability to transport a mature egg through the fallopian tubes, thus hindering fertilization.   

Naturally, one of the best solutions for successful reproduction is living a relatively stress free life, one of rest and quietude.  This is because rest causes the brain to release hormones that frequently enable reproduction. 

 Christ told the disciples that they could exchange the heavy burdens they carried for rest in Him.  In other words, He was their best source of rest.  Let us read a text in Matthew 11.

Matthew 11:28 Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:29 Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

This is what Hannah did.  We read in 1 Samuel 1:10 that "she was in bitterness of soul…" and that it was after eating that she arose and went to the temple, "… and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore."  In verse 13 we read of her agony of soul as: "she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard."  Verse 16 demonstrates the depth of the burden she carried as she states, "for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto."  She came to Christ heavy laden, and in unburdening herself by taking His yoke, she found rest for her soul.

  Speaking through Eli the priest, the Lord encouraged Hannah.  Verse 18 says that Hannah "went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad."  In other words, Hannah was relieved and content.

We do know that the scripture says that God "shut up her womb" thereby causing her infertility.  We have also seen that it was reversed after she came to the end of herself, just as truly as was Sarah's.  Each woman's complete trust in and dependence on God led to her rest. 

  How is it with you today, have you come to your rest? 

--
Raul Diaz
www.wolfsoath.com