How does Adonijah's actions reflect a lack of submission to God's will? Setting the Scene 1 Kings 1:10: “But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, or Benaiah, or the mighty men, or Solomon his brother.” • Adonijah has already gathered Joab, Abiathar, and other high-profile supporters (vv. 7-9). • He stages a royal feast at En Rogel, signaling a coronation. • Yet he pointedly excludes the prophet, the warrior loyalists, and the divinely chosen heir, Solomon. Recognizing God’s Revealed Plan • God had spoken through David years earlier: – 1 Chronicles 22:9-10: “Behold, a son will be born to you … his name shall be Solomon, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.” – 1 Chronicles 28:5-7 confirms the same promise. • Nathan, Zadok, and Benaiah were guardians of that revelation; Adonijah’s snub of them is a snub of God’s word. Adonijah’s Self-Exaltation • 1 Kings 1:5: “Adonijah … exalted himself, saying, ‘I will be king.’” • Mirroring Absalom’s earlier power-grab (2 Samuel 15:1-6), he relies on horses, chariots, and charm rather than on divine appointment. • Pride, not providence, drives him—Proverbs 16:18: “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Indicators of Rebellion in 1 Kings 1:10 • Selective invitations: He gathers only those who will applaud him, shielding himself from prophetic correction. • Silencing God’s mouthpiece: Nathan’s absence removes the voice that would confront sin and re-state God’s promise. • Neglect of covenant loyalty: Benaiah and the “mighty men” had sworn allegiance to David’s house, yet Adonijah bypasses them, undermining covenant order. • Disregard for the rightful heir: Excluding Solomon shows deliberate resistance to God’s declared choice. Why Ignoring God’s Messengers Matters • Luke 10:16: “He who rejects you rejects Me.” Rejecting Nathan symbolically rejects the Lord Himself. • Hebrews 13:17 calls believers to heed spiritual leaders because they “keep watch over your souls.” Adonijah’s selective deafness exposes a rebellious heart. Contrast: Solomon’s Humble Anointing • Solomon waits; he does not trumpet his right. • When David orders his anointing (1 Kings 1:32-40), Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet officiate, underscoring submission to divine order. • The people cry, “Long live King Solomon!”—a spontaneous affirmation of God’s intent, not a self-promoted spectacle. What Submission Looks Like for Believers Today • Seek Scripture first when making plans—Proverbs 3:5-6. • Welcome godly counsel instead of silencing it—Proverbs 15:22. • Let God exalt in His timing—James 4:10, 1 Peter 5:6. • Measure ambition by obedience: if a desire contradicts revealed truth, it is rebellion, not vision. Key Takeaways • Adonijah’s actions reveal a willful disregard for God’s revealed choice, exposing a heart captive to pride. • Submission to God’s will is evidenced by listening to His word, respecting His messengers, and yielding personal ambition to divine purpose. • The narrative warns that self-promotion apart from God’s sanction leads to division and, ultimately, divine opposition—“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). |
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