What can we learn about humility from Adonijah's request in 1 Kings 2:16? The Scene Behind the Request • After David’s death, Solomon is the God-appointed king (1 Kings 1:30). • Adonijah, who had earlier tried to seize the throne, now pleads with Bathsheba: “Now I have just one request of you; do not deny me” (1 Kings 2:16). • He asks for Abishag—David’s last attendant—hoping the marriage will shore up a lingering claim to power (cf. 2 Samuel 3:7; 2 Kings 2:13). Adonijah’s Tone: Courteous Yet Calculated • “Just one request” sounds modest, but the aim is massive. • His wording signals deference, yet he bypasses Solomon, the rightful authority. • Outward politeness masks an un-submitted heart. True Humility Compared to Adonijah’s Counterfeit 1. Submission to God’s Choices – True humility bows to God’s sovereign appointments (Romans 13:1). – Adonijah’s end-around shows resistance to God’s choice of Solomon. 2. Transparency of Motive – Humility walks in the light (Ephesians 5:8–10). – Adonijah clothes ambition in soft words (Proverbs 26:24–26). 3. Acceptance of One’s Place – John the Baptist: “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). – Adonijah seeks to regain prominence rather than serve quietly. 4. Dependence on God, Not Schemes – Humble faith waits for God to exalt (1 Peter 5:6). – Adonijah crafts a political maneuver instead of trusting God’s timing. Why the Lord Highlights This for Us • Warns against masking pride with religious or polite language. • Shows that humility is measured by obedience, not phrasing. • Reminds us that God sees intentions (1 Samuel 16:7). • Underscores that grasping for status invites discipline (Luke 14:11). Putting It into Practice • Examine requests: Are they surrendered to God’s will or self-advancing? • Seek counsel openly, not through back channels that sidestep authority. • Celebrate others’ promotion as God’s plan, resisting envy. • Rely on God’s timing to open doors rather than forcing outcomes. Key Complementary Passages • Philippians 2:3–4 – “Do nothing out of selfish ambition…” • James 4:6 – “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” • Proverbs 16:18 – “Pride goes before destruction…” • 1 Peter 5:5–6 – “Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another.” |
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