Lets Get Acquainted With Abiathar: A Young Man That Survived a Massacre (2 of 10)

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1 ï» back to title page Lets Get Acquainted With Abiathar: A Young Man That Survived a Massacre (2 of 10) Ken Trivette Series: Let's Get Acquainted Series II Samuel In recent days we all have been horrified at the stories that have been coming out of Yugoslavia and Kosovo. It has been estimated, due to the hostilities and ethnic cleansing of Milosevic and the Serb army, more than 600,000 people have fled Kosovo and another 700,000 are trapped inside The refugees have told stories such as Serbs dousing 60 men with gasoline and burning them alive. A 73 year old economist, who had once been Yugoslavia's representative at the World Bank in Washington, told of bodies by the side of the road and of a man shot between the eyes after being interrogated by the Serbs. Other sources told of an Albanian human-rights lawyer being dragged from his home along with his two sons, their bodies being found the next day at a gas station south of Pristina. Newsweek told of a long list of alleged atrocities such as 115 men being executed in one town, 200 in another, and 100 in another. The stories tell of towns being burned and Serbs systematically killing well-known Albanian professional and intellectuals. It is one story after another of slaughter and massacres. (Figures from Newsweek, 4/5 and 4/12/99.) 2. Before us in the scripture is another story of slaughter and massacre. It is a story that tells of the murder of 85 priests along with women and children. There was only one survivor. A young man by the name of Abiathar, the son of Ahimelech, the high priest.

2 3. Abiathar is another not so well known character of the Old Testament that we want to become acquainted with. The name Abiathar means, "father of abundance" or "my father exceeds." 4. Abiathar would become the tenth high priest and King David's trusted companion and counselor. But before there were such happy days, there were horrible days. 5. Abiathar was the sole survivor of the massacre of Nob. Let's look at this chapter in his life and get better acquainted with this young man that survived a massacre. 1. ABIATHAR'S DISTRESSING SITUATION! 1. To understand the distressing situation of Abiathar, let's set the background to this bloody scene in the Bible. A. WE SEE THE ASSISTANCE OF DAVID. 1. David was on the run. Saul had forced him to flee for his life. In this dark hour of his life, we read in I Samuel 21 that he fled to the little town of Nob (city of the priests) and turned to Ahimelech the high priest for help. 2. David is hungry and asks for food. Ahimelech provides him food. David is without a weapon to defend himself and asks if there is any available. Ahimelech gives him the sword of Goliath whom David had slain. 3. In his hour of distress and danger, Ahimelech reaches out to David and gives him aid and assistance. B. WE SEE THE ANGER OF SAUL. 1. Saul gets word of how Ahimelech had helped David and has him brought before

3 him. He asks Ahimelech in I Samuel 22:13, "Why hast thou conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword, and hast inquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?" 2. The answer of Ahimelech is without hesitation of fear. He answers Saul in I Samuel 22:14, "Who is so faithful among all thy servants as David..." 3. I can see the face of Saul turn red with anger and rage. How dare Ahimelech talk to him like that. How dare he stand before him and announce his allegiance and support of David. Saul, burning with rage barks out the command that Ahimelech and his entire household be slain. C. WE SEE THE ATROCITIES OF DOEG. 1. Saul orders his men to kill Ahimelech and his entire household. But the servants of Saul, devoted to their king but respectful of the holy office that Ahimelech and the priests served, at the peril of their own lives, refused to lift a hand against the priests of the Lord. 2. But there was one without any respect of the office of the high priest or the God they represented. He boldly stepped forward to carry out the dastardly deed. His name was Doeg. 3. We read in I Samuel 22:18-19 that he fell upon them and slew 85 priests of the Lord. He then went to the city of Nob, the city of the priests, slaughtering all the men, women, children, and babies, as well as their flocks. 4. It was a case of wholesale murder in the first degree. It is the story of a whole town being massacred. It is a story that belongs with the atrocities of Mussolini, Hitler, and Milosevic. 5. The only survivor was Abiathar, one of Ahimelech's sons. We read in I Samuel 22:20, "And one of the sons of Ahimelech, the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped..."

4 6. How he escaped, no one knows, but he was the only one to survive the massacre of Nob. 7. The distressing situation of Abiathar reminds of the distressing situations of life. But as we continue looking at him, we learn what to do and where to go during these distressing times. 1. Abiathar's Distressing Situation! 2. ABIATHAR'S DESIRED SHELTER! 1. Notice in I Samuel 22:20, where and to whom Abiathar fled once he escaped the massacre of Nob. We read that he "fled after David." Now why did he flee to David? A. HIS EMPATHY FOR THOSE IN DISTRESS. 1. David knew what it was to run for his life. He knew what it was to have his life threatened. Because of what he had gone through, he could have sympathy and empathy with those in the same situation. Abiathar knew this and felt that if he went to David, he would receive him. 2. When we are in distressing situations, we have Someone that we can turn to that can sympathize and empathize with us. We read in Hebrews 4:15-16, "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." 3. I think of the old song "Leave it There." One stanza says: If your body suffers pain,

5 And your health you can't regain, And your soul is almost sinking in despair, Jesus knows the pain you feel, He can save and He can heal, Take your burden to the Lord And leave it there. 4. If your soul is sinking in despair, Jesus does know the pain you feel. He has been there. He can empathize with you. 5. I think of a story I read in "Our Daily Bread." A man put up a sign in his yard that read: "Puppies for Sale." Among those who came to inquire was a young boy. "Please, Mister," he said, "I'd like to buy one of your puppies if they don't cost too much." "Well, son, they're $25." The boy looked crushed. "I've only got two dollars and five cents. Could I see them anyway?" "Of course. Maybe we can work something out," said the man. The lad's eyes danced at the sight of those five little balls of fur. "I heard that one has a bad leg," he said. "Yes, I'm afraid she'll be crippled for life." "Well, that's the puppy I want. Could I pay for her a little at a time?" The man responded, "But she'll always have a limp." Smiling bravely, the boy pulled up one pant leg, revealing a brace. "I don't walk good either." Then, looking at the puppy sympathetically, he continued, "I guess she'll need a lot of love and help. I sure did. Its not so easy being crippled." "Here, take her," said the man. "I know you'll give her a good home. And just forget the money." 6. David had been there and Abiathar knew he would understand what he was going through. Our Lord has been there and He knows what we are going through. We can turn to Him in our hour of distress. B. HIS EMBRACING OF THOSE IN DISTRESS. 1. Abiathar not only felt that David would understand and empathize with him, but no doubt he had heard that others in distressing situations were finding a friend in David.

6 2. Notice I Samuel 22:1-2, "David departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him. And everyone that was in distress, and everyone that was in debt, and everyone that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men." 3. They were coming to David from all kinds of situations. Those in distress came to David. Those who were burdened and overwhelmed with life found in David a friend. 4. Those in debt came to David. Those in financial straits, unable to make ends meet found in David a friend. 5. Those who were discontented came to David. The word "discontented" means "bitter in soul." It speaks of those who were hurting deep within. They found in David a friend. 6. There came to David troubled ones, threatened ones, and tormented ones. Each one with their own private grievance found in David one they could turn to. 7. No matter what your distressing situation may be, there is One that you can turn to that will welcome and receive you. There have been untold numbers of people with personal burdens and private needs that have found Jesus to be a "very present help in the time of trouble." 8. The songwriter said it well: O Rock divine, O Refuge dear, A shelter in the time of storm; Be Thou our Helper ever near, A Shelter in the time of storm.

7 9. Have you been hurt by another? Jesus is Someone Who knows what you feel and you can turn to Him. Have you been mistreated by another? Jesus had been there and He welcomes you to come to Him. 10. Are you going through a distressing time in your life? Jesus is Someone you can run to. Are you going through a difficult time in your life? Jesus is Someone you can run to. Many have turned to him with all kinds of needs and problems and found in Him a wonderful welcome. 1. Abiathar's Distressing Situation! 2. Abiathar's Desired Shelter! 3. ABIATHAR'S DELIGHTFUL SAFETY! 1. Abiathar escapes a massacre. He flees to David. With David he finds safety. Notice what David said to him in I Samuel 22:23, "Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard." 2. What comforting words those must have meant to the sole survivor of a massacre. He had watched his father, family, and friends brutally slaughtered. He had run for his life, barley escaping the slaughter. He was fortunate to be alive. I can imagine him falling at the feet of David weeping in gratitude. 3. How consoling David's words must have meant to his heart. How comforting David's words must have meant to his heart. Why? A. HE NO LONGER HAD TO FLEE. 1. David said to him, "Abide thou with me." He no longer had a family. He no longer had a home. But he found with David a place where he could stop running. He found a place where he could abide.

8 2. Thank God, many years ago I found in the Lord Jesus an abiding place. My search for a place to go when I am in a distressing situation is over. I found the Lord Jesus to be my abiding place. B. HE NO LONGER HAD TO FEAR. 1. David said to him, "fear not." One can only imagine the fear that filled the heart of Abiathar. But how blessed those words "fear not," must have been to his heart. 2. Jesus said to His disciples one night on a stormy sea, "Fear not." Jesus says to you that are sailing stormy seas, "Fear not." C. HE NO LONGER HAD TO FRET. 1. David said to him, "with me thou shalt be in safeguard." David was saying, "You don't have to worry. With me, you will be safe." 2. We can turn to the Lord Jesus in our distressing situations and when we do, we do not have to flee, fear, or fret. He is our shelter in the time of storm. 3. It was Christmas Eve 1875 and Ira Sankey was traveling on a Delaware River steamboat when he was recognized by some of the passengers. His picture had been in the newspaper because he was the song leader for the famous evangelist D.L. Moody. They asked him to sing one of his own hymns, but Sankey demurred, saying that he preferred to sing William B. Bradbury's hymn, "Savior Like a Shepherd Lead Us." As he sang, one of the stanzas began, "We are Thine; do Thou befriend us. Be the Guardian of our way." When he finished, a man stepped from the shadows and asked, "Did you ever serve in the Union Army?" "Yes," Mr. Sankey answered, "in the spring of 1860." Can you remember if you were doing picket duty on a bright, moonlit night in 1862?" "Yes," Mr. Sankey answered, very much surprised. "So did I, but I was serving in the Confederate army. When I saw you standing at your post, I thought to myself, 'That fellow will never get away alive."

9 I raised my musket and took aim. I was standing in the shadow, completely concealed, while the full light of the moon was falling upon you. At that instant, just as a moment ago, you raised your eyes to heaven and began to sing. "Let him sing his song to the end," I said to myself, 'I can shoot him afterwards. He's my victim at all events, and my bullet cannot miss him.' But the song you sang then was the song you sang just now. I heard the words perfectly: 'We are Thine; do Thou befriend us. Be the Guardian of our way.' Those words stirred up many memories. I began to think of my childhood and my God-fearing mother. She had many times sung that song to me. When you had finished your song, it was impossible for me to take aim again. I thought, 'The Lord who is able to save that man from certain death must surely be great and mighty.' And my arm of its own accord dropped limp at my side." 4. I remind you that the Lord is the One Who will befriend us and be the Guardian of our way." Abiathar found in David a Guardian of his way and we find in the Lord Jesus the Guardian of our way.