07. ADONIJAH
ADONIJAH
"Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king; and he provided himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. And his father had not grieved him at any time in saying, Why doest thou so? And he was also a very comely man; and his mother bore him after Absalom."
1Ki 1:5-6 "Every one that exalts himself shall be abased, and he that abases himself shall be exalted."
It is sad to see Adonijah, David’s fourth son, following the bad example set by his older brother, Absalom. Vanity and pride and a lack of parental firmness in discipline led him to exalt himself. Against God’s express word that Solomon was to be king and David’s command to the princes of Israel to help Solomon, he now attempted to secure the throne, even drawing some of David’s long-time followers into his plans and preparations. How tragic when parents let their children do as they please, never holding them to account. What a dreadful harvest such sowing brings!
"I will be king!" Does this not remind us of the "I wills" attributed to Lucifer in Isa 14:1-32? It was his goal to have the first place in all things, the honor that God has purposed for His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ (Col 1:18). To attain his goal, he led many other angels astray in dastardly rebellion against God. But his power has been defeated at Calvary by that glorious One who humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. He will soon be abased to the depth of hell.
Adonijah’s attempted coup was thwarted at the very height of the conspirators’ celebration. His guests scattered. Seeking safety, Adonijah caught hold of the horns of the altar. While he gained temporary respite thereby, he soon demonstrated that neither his heart nor his ways had changed, so he was executed.