The Bible is a wonderful book that is a collection of various writings in which we see who God is, who we are and how things can turn out for us.
The human condition is very graphically and effectively portrayed in those writings. Recently a few of us were reading the episode featuring King David and his fourth son, Adonijah. David, the man after God’s heart, had some serious family issues. His first son from one wife raped his daughter from another wife and the brother of the daughter from that wife (yep another son) in a calculated manner went onto killed the rapist brother. Then the son who killed his rapist brother, returned from exile having been banished by his Dad for the act and returned to his Dad’s good graces to a degree. But with that position this son stirred up rebellion against his own Dad leading to a brief civil war as he sought to deliver a coup that had his Dad on the run for a brief while. That little coup ended abruptly when this son was mercilessly killed by the Dad’s general.
I did say that David had some serious family issues.
So it shouldn’t be any surprise that in his final days on the throne, David should still suffer from some family hardship. This time from the son who thought he should be king. But if he was having hardship, that would be nothing compared to a day that this son, Adonijah, would want to forget.
Seeing his Dad at a vulnerable and weakened stage in his reign, Adonijah takes it upon himself to be appointed the next King. By take it upon himself, he doesn’t bother notifying his Dad and forms a pact with a few political, military and religious figures to confirm his self-appointment. Not only that but he arranges a massive party for the occasion inviting his brothers with the exception of Solomon and also not inviting a few other crucial members of the Royal court.
Big mistake.
While he goes off to enjoy himself, some of those who were excluded go to the King to get him to do something about this situation and on that same day official arrangements are made to officially appoint Solomon as the King in place of David. Adonijah had arranged a decent party, but that was nothing compared to the big official royal get-up that makes such a noise that even those at Adonijah’s party are wondering what’s going on.
So imagine you’re Adonijah. You think the throne – being top dog in the country – should yours. You believe you have the right backing behind you. You’re good looking and you know it. Everything should be set up what could possibly go wrong.
Then while you’re enjoying drinks with the lads, you’re buddy bursts in to tell you that your Dad has undermined everything that you’ve done. Not only that but now your act can be construed as possible treason. From being the self-appointed one, you’re now the wanted one – and not wanted in a good way either.
These episodes in scripture I think are very important for us. We don’t have to be in royalty to relate to feeling entitled to things and wanting to take matters into our own hands. Our parents don’t have to be kings and queens for us to have a sense that we deserve the best in life and should go grab that stuff in any way we can.
We can relate and we can still learn how important it is to retreat from those feelings of entitlement and those quests for power and prestige at any cost. It doesn’t have to be on a large scale either, it’s a mentality and attitude that can start simply and become embedded. It’s important to identify it and root it out by taking on the humble approach. Taking on the approach of submitting daily to what God says about us and living in that.
It’s important to do that, because we wouldn’t want to have the kind of day Adonijah experienced where his fall from grace was rapid and painful.
And that doesn’t even begin to mention what Adonijah did next …
(Photo by Erol Ahmed on Unsplash)
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
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