Look not to false, fading would-be kings like the pretender Adonijah (continued)
2. Expect them to rely on mere worldly assets
To add to his prestige Adonijah ‘got chariots and horses ready, with fifty men to run ahead of him’. It created an aura of power and prestige. Such pretenders know how to shine. Just in case we are tempted to be impressed the writer adds (verse 6) 'His father had never interfered with him by asking, Why do you behave as you do? He was also very handsome and was born next after Absalom.'
The parallel with his brothers Amnon and Absalom should alert us to the problem. Amnon was similarly left to find his own level by David and ended up raping his half-sister. In response, you may recall, Absalom killed Amnon. Absalom then staged a coup and forced David to retreat from Jerusalem into the desert. He too was a handsome man (like Saul and David’s eldest brother Eliab). Worldly considerations like impressive parades and good looks should not sway our judgement, but sadly they often do. We cannot appoint leaders on such a flimsy basis.
3. Expect them to find support
In verse 7 we are told ‘Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they gave him their support.’ He was not short of backers. The Head of the military and the High Priest, no less, were behind him. Joab is perhaps no surprise but one would have hoped more from Abiathar.
This reminds us that from both likely and unlikely sources pretenders are able to summon support. How often are people fooled into following false teachers just because certain people back them. That is why politicians are so eager to enlist the commendation of pop stars and sportsmen. This extends to religion. Because, say, Madonna follows the Kabbalah or Tom Cruise accepts scientology then some people are willing to give it credence. If some respected Christian leader commends a book or a cause it has a big influence. This is understandable but we must not make the mistake of thinking that such things prove that a cause must be right.
John Wesley was a fine evangelist but certain aspects of his doctrine do not bear close scrutiny. Something similar could be said of Richard Baxter and other great men of the past. And even the finest Christian leader will have some flaw or blind spot in his thinking or actions. A perusal of the lives of the saints in the Bible confirms that.
In verse 8 we read ‘But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei and Rei and David’s special guard did not join Adonijah.’ Before we get taken up with anyone’s ‘verse 7 qualifications’ we need to check their ‘verse 8 ones’ too, as it were. Look both at who supports and who does not support a person. We cannot ultimately make decisions on the basis of who is for or against something but it can help us to get our bearings.
4. Expect them to seek to establish themselves in worldly ways
In order to establish his claims Adonijah did what many would-be leaders have done. He had a big party.
9, 10 'Adonijah then sacrificed sheep, cattle and fattened calves at the Stone of Zoheleth near En Rogel. He invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah who were royal officials, but he did not invite Nathan the prophet or Benaiah or the special guard or his brother Solomon.'
The true king was deliberately excluded. Again big meetings and lavish displays can take in the unwary. Remember Hitler once more. No-one put on larger or more spectacular rallies than he. It is superficial to be impressed by such things. They are all show and have no place for the true king.
5. Expect them eventually to fail and be brought down
What happened to Adonijah comes out at the end. When he and his guests heard that Solomon had been appointed as king (49) ‘Adonijah’s guests rose in alarm and dispersed.’ All his support came to nothing. As for Adonijah himself he (50) ‘in fear of Solomon, went and took hold of the horns of the altar.’ The Temple was then thought of, as it might be now, as a place of sanctuary. Pretenders will cling to anything when they are going down. Solomon is told the situation and he says (52) ‘If he shows himself to be a worthy man, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground; but if evil is found in him, he will die.’
Solomon then has Adonijah brought to him. He bows down to the true king before being sent home. It is a picture of the way one day every knee will bow to the True King, including those who have set themselves up as false teachers and wicked leaders opposed to the True King Jesus. You too will bow one day if you have not already done so. Humble yourself now in this life before it is too late. Do not for a moment put your faith in those who will inevitably lead you astray.
2. Expect them to rely on mere worldly assets
To add to his prestige Adonijah ‘got chariots and horses ready, with fifty men to run ahead of him’. It created an aura of power and prestige. Such pretenders know how to shine. Just in case we are tempted to be impressed the writer adds (verse 6) 'His father had never interfered with him by asking, Why do you behave as you do? He was also very handsome and was born next after Absalom.'
The parallel with his brothers Amnon and Absalom should alert us to the problem. Amnon was similarly left to find his own level by David and ended up raping his half-sister. In response, you may recall, Absalom killed Amnon. Absalom then staged a coup and forced David to retreat from Jerusalem into the desert. He too was a handsome man (like Saul and David’s eldest brother Eliab). Worldly considerations like impressive parades and good looks should not sway our judgement, but sadly they often do. We cannot appoint leaders on such a flimsy basis.
3. Expect them to find support
In verse 7 we are told ‘Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they gave him their support.’ He was not short of backers. The Head of the military and the High Priest, no less, were behind him. Joab is perhaps no surprise but one would have hoped more from Abiathar.
This reminds us that from both likely and unlikely sources pretenders are able to summon support. How often are people fooled into following false teachers just because certain people back them. That is why politicians are so eager to enlist the commendation of pop stars and sportsmen. This extends to religion. Because, say, Madonna follows the Kabbalah or Tom Cruise accepts scientology then some people are willing to give it credence. If some respected Christian leader commends a book or a cause it has a big influence. This is understandable but we must not make the mistake of thinking that such things prove that a cause must be right.
John Wesley was a fine evangelist but certain aspects of his doctrine do not bear close scrutiny. Something similar could be said of Richard Baxter and other great men of the past. And even the finest Christian leader will have some flaw or blind spot in his thinking or actions. A perusal of the lives of the saints in the Bible confirms that.
In verse 8 we read ‘But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei and Rei and David’s special guard did not join Adonijah.’ Before we get taken up with anyone’s ‘verse 7 qualifications’ we need to check their ‘verse 8 ones’ too, as it were. Look both at who supports and who does not support a person. We cannot ultimately make decisions on the basis of who is for or against something but it can help us to get our bearings.
4. Expect them to seek to establish themselves in worldly ways
In order to establish his claims Adonijah did what many would-be leaders have done. He had a big party.
9, 10 'Adonijah then sacrificed sheep, cattle and fattened calves at the Stone of Zoheleth near En Rogel. He invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah who were royal officials, but he did not invite Nathan the prophet or Benaiah or the special guard or his brother Solomon.'
The true king was deliberately excluded. Again big meetings and lavish displays can take in the unwary. Remember Hitler once more. No-one put on larger or more spectacular rallies than he. It is superficial to be impressed by such things. They are all show and have no place for the true king.
5. Expect them eventually to fail and be brought down
What happened to Adonijah comes out at the end. When he and his guests heard that Solomon had been appointed as king (49) ‘Adonijah’s guests rose in alarm and dispersed.’ All his support came to nothing. As for Adonijah himself he (50) ‘in fear of Solomon, went and took hold of the horns of the altar.’ The Temple was then thought of, as it might be now, as a place of sanctuary. Pretenders will cling to anything when they are going down. Solomon is told the situation and he says (52) ‘If he shows himself to be a worthy man, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground; but if evil is found in him, he will die.’
Solomon then has Adonijah brought to him. He bows down to the true king before being sent home. It is a picture of the way one day every knee will bow to the True King, including those who have set themselves up as false teachers and wicked leaders opposed to the True King Jesus. You too will bow one day if you have not already done so. Humble yourself now in this life before it is too late. Do not for a moment put your faith in those who will inevitably lead you astray.
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