Observation: Adonijah is conducting a coup to claim kingship of Israel. While by birth he has a valid claim, it is known that Solomon is the heir named by David. The logistics of what he does to conduct this coup is quite telling.
First, Adonijah includes many of the visible leaders of Israel, including Joab the military commander, and Abiathar who was David's personal priest. However, he excludes the leaders who are closest to God, Nathan the prophet, Zadok the high priest, and Benaiah who is one of David's "mighty men" and whose father's name (Jehoiada) means "Yahweh knows". In this manner, he includes those who have earthly influence, but excludes those who would look to the Lord for their proper direction.
Second, Adonijah unifies his support at a feast "near the stone of Zoheleth, which is next to En-rogel." This location is interesting for what it is and is not. It is not inside Jerusalem, and it is not central and obvious to others ... in fact, it must be concealed as it was used as a hiding place by David's spies during Absolom's rebellion. It is in a place with some significance as the well, being the designated boundary marker between Judah and Benjamin, but the fact there is a 'named' stone in the Kidron Valley also illudes to the idea that it may be a place of Canaanite worship. In other words, at best this is a place hidden to the population of Jerusalem.
Third, Adonijah conducts this act while David is still alive, but is so weakened that he is bedridden. If he had attempted this while David was still strong, he knows David would publicly oppose and likely kill him. If he waits until David is dead, then the people will question David's true intent. By doing this now, it perfectly implies David's consent, excludes the possibility of David's public objection, and thus will be viewed as David's will by the rest of Israel. Adonijah has chosen his timing well.
Fourth, Adonijah solidifies his coup through sacrifices and a resulting feast. The feast of course implies that he is bestowing rich favor on his supporters. However, by doing this via a sacrificial process implies Yahweh's blessing ... and the Lord has rules, all of which Adonijah is ignoring. This sacrifice is not being done on the Lord's alter, by a priest, following neither the sacrificial procedures nor the prescribed purposes for offerings.
To pursue his agenda to become king, Adonijah has exercised worldly logic. He has included influential people, gathered them at a place of significance, planned the timing to perfectly align with circumstances, and unified all in a grand ceremony. However, in all of this, he excluded the Lord, even violating the Lord's laws and precepts and instructions, and it is the Lord who decides and defines the kingship of Israel.
Application: Those who wish to control, manipulate, and deceive will use worldly structures to make worldly plans, then execute on those plans using worldly authority. This defines the politics of our day, where all who participate in such debates are driven by worldly logic, and almost never rely on any sort of authority derived from the Lord. Even "moral" arguments involve worldly logic that is built upon itself, and not on the truth in God's word.
Of the groups shouting about all the issues of the world, I don't see any of them doing so by publicly praying to the Lord, discerning his will, and seeking his timing. There are pockets of people doing this, which generally involve only the most faithful churches (and synagogues).
All I see when I look around is people acting like Adonijah ... making plans in private, holding big 'shows' as if that connotes rightness, conducting these on just the right dates, and including people who are 'important' only by a worldly definition of the word. Where are the people who want to improve the world by going to the Lord, asking him what he would like to see happen, and then doing that?
Again, they are those pockets faithful to the Lord, being persecuted in places like Tehran, Tel Aviv, Bejing, Riyadh, Pyongyang ... and Seattle.
Prayer: Lord, I know I do not do enough in your name, but neither do I ever want to act in a manner that leverages worldly models. Please give us all your strength to both seek and do only your will for the advancement of your kingdom in the world. Amen.
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