Ahimelek stuck up for David by giving him the provisions he needed to do what God had called him to do, even though it ended up getting him killed. Are we so wrapped up with our own calling, that we forget to serve people in theirs, and are we willing to stand behind people who are doing the will of God?
There are multiple people named Ahimelek in the Bible, but the one that we are discussing today was the grand priest (called a kohen in Hebrew) of a town called Nob. As a priest, Ahimelek would have had many responsibilities in serving the local community. Most notably, the Jewish priests were responsible for offering all of the various sacrifices and offerings which were required by the law and setup during the time of Moses. In addition to this, priests were responsible for teaching the Torah to the people, issuing judgments, and running the Day of Atonement service (also called Yom Kippur). With all of these things considered, we can gather that Ahimelek was held to incredibly high standards, was one of the most knowledgeable people at the time of the law and Torah, and regularly led many people in various aspects of their lives (but especially spiritually).
When confronted with a decision of whether to follow the law or whether to help a person in need, Ahimelek decides to allow David to take the consecrated bread to save his life. He decides to step out of his role as a priest for a moment in order to meet the tangible need of the person in front of him.
1 Samuel 21:3-6
3 Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever you can find.” 4 But the priest answered David, “I don’t have any ordinary bread on hand; however, there is some consecrated bread here—provided the men have kept themselves from women.” 5 David replied, “Indeed women have been kept from us, as usual whenever I set out. The men’s bodies are holy even on missions that are not holy. How much more so today!” 6 So the priest gave him the consecrated bread, since there was no bread there except the bread of the Presence that had been removed from before the Lord and replaced by hot bread on the day it was taken away.
Now while this may sound somewhat strange in our culture, this bread was no ordinary bread, it was called shew bread. Translated differently, it could be called the “bread of the presence”. It literally signified the presence of God. This bread was baked in a very specific manner each week and placed on a table in the inner part of the sanctuary. Now only the Jewish priests were allowed to eat this bread, and even then they had to eat it in a holy place. Therefore, giving David this bread was no small decision.
It can be easy to get so wrapped up in what we are doing that we miss the needs of the actual people around us. As a sidekick, Ahimelek was able to honor the intent of the sacred bread while still recognizing the very real need of the person that was before him. Jesus actually makes reference to this very story in one of his dealings with the Pharisees of the time.
Matthew 12:1-4
1 At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. 2 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.” 3 He answered, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread—which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests.
Ahimelek provides the supplies that David needs during his time in need. He does this despite the very real danger of the crazy, vindictive king who ends up killing him and his entire family. Unfortunately, there was one of Saul’s servants present during this exchange, and he reports back to Saul everything that had happened, how Ahimelek helped David in his time of need.
1 Samuel 22:9-10
9 But Doeg the Edomite, who was standing with Saul’s officials, said, “I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelek son of Ahitub at Nob. 10 Ahimelek inquired of the Lord for him; he also gave him provisions and the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”
When confronted by Saul, Ahimelek calls the king out on his actions and defends David in front of the most powerful person in the land!
1 Samuel 22:13-15
13 Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, giving him bread and a sword and inquiring of God for him, so that he has rebelled against me and lies in wait for me, as he does today?” 14 Ahimelek answered the king, “Who of all your servants is as loyal as David, the king’s son-in-law, captain of your bodyguard and highly respected in your household? 15 Was that day the first time I inquired of God for him? Of course not! Let not the king accuse your servant or any of his father’s family, for your servant knows nothing at all about this whole affair.”
Ahimelek boldly proclaims to the literal king of the time why he is wrong for persecuting David and why his actions were justified and morally acceptable. Can you imagine making a claim like this in front of a king (especially one as unhinged as king Saul)? King Saul was an intimidating man (he literally carried his spear with him everywhere and that is specifically mentioned multiple times throughout the Bible).
Despite all of that, Ahimelek stands up for what he believes is right and even boldly proclaims to the king that he is wrong for his actions and pleads with the king not to seek retribution. Unfortunately (as is fairly common in the old testament), this story ends very poorly for Ahimelek. King Saul orders that he and his entire family be killed. However, despite this direct order, none of Saul’s men would perform this terrible action. It took Doeg, the man who betrayed Ahimelek’s actions to Saul, to carry out the punishment. Fortunately, one of Ahimelek’s sons escapes the slaughter and joins David and his men who are able to protect him.
