How does Adonijah's actions in 1 Kings 1:9 reflect a lack of submission? Setting the Scene 1 Kings 1 opens with David in his final days. God had already revealed that Solomon, the son of Bathsheba, would succeed David (1 Chronicles 22:9-10). Against that clear divine assignment, Adonijah advances his own plan. Text in View 1 Kings 1:9: “Adonijah sacrificed sheep, cattle, and fattened calves near the stone of Zoheleth, beside En-rogel; he invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah who were servants of the king.” Observations from 1 Kings 1:9 • A public feast with lavish sacrifices • Location chosen for maximum visibility (“near the stone of Zoheleth”) • Deliberate guest list: royal brothers and influential officials of Judah • Notably missing: Solomon, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, and Zadok (1 Kings 1:10) How Adonijah Displays a Lack of Submission • Ignoring God’s Revealed Will – God had already declared Solomon the heir (1 Chronicles 28:5-7). – Adonijah’s self-promotion contradicts direct revelation, showing willful resistance to divine authority. • Disregarding Parental Authority – Exodus 20:12 commands honoring father and mother. – David was still alive; a submissive son would have sought his blessing rather than staging a coronation behind his back (cf. Proverbs 30:17). • Manipulating Spiritual Symbols – Sacrifices normally express worship and dependence (Leviticus 1-7). – Adonijah twists them into political theater, treating sacred rites as tools for personal gain—an affront to the God who prescribed them. • Aligning with the Wrong Counsel – He surrounds himself with supporters willing to overlook God’s choice (1 Kings 1:7). – Proverbs 13:20 warns, “He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.” • Excluding God-honoring Voices – Nathan and Zadok—known for loyalty to the Lord—are left off the guest list (1 Kings 1:10). – Refusing accountability reveals a heart unwilling to submit to godly correction (Hebrews 13:17). • Asserting Self-Exaltation over Servanthood – Jesus later teaches, “Whoever wants to become great among you shall be your servant” (Mark 10:43). – Adonijah seeks greatness through self-promotion, not humble service. Lessons for Us Today • Submission begins with trusting God’s Word even when ambition beckons. • Spiritual activities (like Adonijah’s sacrifices) lose their meaning when divorced from obedience (1 Samuel 15:22). • Surrounding ourselves with voices that affirm truth, not merely our preferences, guards the heart from rebellion. • True leadership waits on God’s timing and advances His purposes rather than forcing outcomes. Key Takeaways • Adonijah’s feast was more than a party; it was a proclamation of independence from God’s plan. • Every act of self-exaltation at the expense of God’s revealed will is, at its core, a refusal to submit. • The path of blessing lies in humble obedience, trusting that God’s appointments are always right and best. |
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