Dividing The Priesthood Part 2: Zadok and Abiathar The Priests

DIVIDING THE PRIESTHOOD Part Two: Zadok and Abiathar the Priests

Name: Zadok

Tribe: Levite (from the house of Aaron)

Role: Chief Priest to High Priest

Zadok was a descendant of Aaron and served as a High Priest during the reign of King David and continued his service into the reign of King Solomon. He played a crucial role during the political and religious transitions of this period. Zadok's loyalty and adherence to God were exceptional. He maintained his position as High Priest, not allowing himself to be distracted by the political climate of the times. Therefore, he was instrumental in maintaining the sanctity of the Temple services.

Scriptural References:

2 Samuel 8:17 - "And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was the scribe."

I want to note here that Abiathar, Ahimelech’s father, was the High Priest during the reign of David. Initially, Zadok and Ahimelech served as priests under Abiathar.

2 Samuel 15:23-25

23 And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.

24 And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him,bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city.

25 And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation:

Zadok obeyed David, because he trusted in the one God had anointed. This trust is not to be looked at lightly, seeing as how these people were running for their lives in fear of Absolom. Furthermore, they all knew of David’s sin of adultery and murder. Yet he was the king, anointed by God. There had been none other appointed by the Lord. Therefore, they maintained their loyalty to the one they knew God had chosen. This was wisdom, and this was safe.

A change in circumstances does not justify a change in loyalty to the will and purpose of God. For David to be King of Israel was the purpose of God. After David’s sin was confronted, a sword was placed in his house. Nevertheless, he repented of the evil he had done; and was allowed to live and also remain on the throne of Israel. This was the righteous judgment of God.

Today there are many who have set themselves up as judges of the fallen men and women of God. Social media is overrun by modern day Scribes and Pharisees, who viciously exploit the sins of other members of the Body for views and stats in the name of ministry.

We know that Absolom was defeated, and David retained the crown; serving as king for forty years. David was also told by God that Solomon was to be his successor. Nevertheless, the sword had not departed from his house. When David was old, and soon to depart this world, Adonijah, Solomon’s brother, proclaimed himself as King over Israel.

By now there are two serving as High Priests; Zadok and Abiathar. Note also that Abiathar was the eldest of the two. He was a priest during the time of King Saul. This was a time of chaos and a nation divided in its loyalties and politics.

1 Kings 1:5-10

5 Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.

6 And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Absalom.

7 And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him.

8 But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men which belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.

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Here is the great divide. Adonijah conferred with Joab, David’s nephew, and captain of the army. But he also conspired with Abiathar the High Priest. These men followed Adonijah into treason. They knew that Solomon was to succeed David. It was no secret.

But Zadok, the other Priest, and Nathan, the Prophet, and the other mighty men did not follow after the treachery of Adonijah. They remained loyal to God and his anointed. They remained in their lanes. They did what God had called them to do.

Abiathar and Joab sought after some benefit to themselves. They were willing to betray their king and their God to achieve their goals. This is the characteristic of many in the Kingdom of God today. They want what they want. There is no regard for the spiritual well-being of the people of God. It is all about getting what they want.

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9 And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by Enrogel, and called all his brethren the king's sons, and all the men of Judah the king's servants:

10 But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not.

The devil knows who to invite to the party. He knows those who will not depart from righteousness just to be in agreement with him.

The Judgment of Joab:

1 Kings 2:33-35

33 Their blood shall therefore return upon the head of Joab, and upon the head of his seed for ever: but upon David, and upon his seed, and upon his house, and upon his throne, shall there be peace for ever from the LORD.

34 So Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up, and fell upon him, and slew him: and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness.

35 And the king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his room over the host: and Zadok the priest did the king put in the room of Abiathar.

Here we see the judgment of God carried out by King Solomon. However, God’s judgment went far beyond these appointments.

The Judgment of the Levites:

Ezekiel 44:10-14

10 And the Levites that are gone away far from me, when Israel went astray, which went astray away from me after their idols; they shall even bear their iniquity.

11 Yet they shall be ministers in my sanctuary, having charge at the gates of the house, and ministering to the house: they shall slay the burnt offering and the sacrifice for the people, and they shall stand before them to minister unto them.

12 Because they ministered unto them before their idols, and caused the house of Israel to fall into iniquity; therefore have I lifted up mine hand against them, saith the Lord GOD, and they shall bear their iniquity.

13 And they shall not come near unto me, to do the office of a priest unto me, nor to come near to any of my holy things, in the most holy place: but they shall bear their shame, and their abominations which they have committed.

14 But I will make them keepers of the charge of the house, for all the service thereof, and for all that shall be done therein.

The bottom line is; God made them ushers and butchers of the offerings. But they could not offer those sacrifices up before the Lord. They were priests with no power to stand before God on behalf of the people.

The Judgment of Zadok:

Ezekiel 44:15-16

15 But the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, they shall come near to me to minister unto me, and they shall stand before me to offer unto me the fat and the blood, saith the Lord GOD:

16 They shall enter into my sanctuary, and they shall come near to my table, to minister unto me, and they shall keep my charge.

Though all the priests were of the tribe of Levi, only the sons of Zadok were allowed to stand before the Lord. God left the other Levites in the Levitical Order doing mediocre tasks.

There are many in the Kingdom of God today who serve in churches with absolutely no power with God. They have no audience or fellowship with Him. Yet they are in the Kingdom. There is a scripture that immediately comes to mind regarding this.

2 Timothy 2:19-21

19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.

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Note here that Paul makes it known that all of us in Christ should depart from inquiry. However, he voices a reality, “There will be vessels of honor and some of dishonor in the Body of Christ.”

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21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

Like the sons of Zadok, the vessels of honor are the sons of God, who walk after the Spirit of God. They sanctify themselves to the truth and manifest the presence of God in the earth. They are intercessors for the lost and those of the Body who are out of the way. They have true fellowship with the Father; and their only aspiration is to please him. They can be used by God for every good work.