February 17, 2003
LifeWay Explore the Bible Series for March 2
Unfettered selfish ambition destroys dreams
___ 1 Kings 1-2
___By Jim Perkins
___Madison Hills Baptist Church, San Antonio
___Self-centered, improper ambition--we all fall prey to it. A national news magazine observed last fall that a U.S. senator who was convinced to abandon his re-election bid because of ethical improprieties still used the word "I" 99 times in his "retirement" speech.
___Improper ambition
______We meet Adonijah in 1 Kings 1:5, but sadly enough he is recognized for his attempt at an ill-advised and unsuccessful coup. That illegitimate action is introduced with Adonijah's decision to "put himself forward" and by announcing, "I will be king."
___He sets the stage for his own disaster, though, with his determination to advance his own unilateral agenda in opposition to God's plans for the nation. Although the details of regal succession are not given in the text, the tenor of 1 Kings 1:10, 17 indicates David had promised--and from his actions Adonijah surely knew--Solomon would succeed him as king.
___Adonijah's plan was shrewd and reminiscent of his elder brother Absalom's earlier attempted coup (2 Samuel 15). As with Absalom before him, Adonijah sought to capture the attention of the people by announcing his attempted ascension to the throne with a parade of chariots and runners (1:5)--what a spectacle! In addition, he sought and won the support of men vital to David's successful reign: Joab the military commander and Abiathar the priest (1:7), the royal advisers and a portion of David's own family (1:9).
___As expected, Adonijah excluded those who would remain loyal to the plans and purposes of David (and the Lord): Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the leader of the elite troops from the Kerethites and Pelethites (2 Samuel 8:18), the royal guard and, of course, Solomon.
___Warning about ambition
___The answer to Adonijah's challenge to God's plan for Israel (Solomon as king) is detailed in 1 Kings 1:11-48. With the encouragement of Nathan and Bathsheba (Solomon's mother), David coordinated a public announcement of the God-approved plan of regal succession. Solomon was anointed as king (a co-regency with David) and introduced to the adoring audience of Israel, who welcomed David's decision concerning his successor (1:38-40; also 1 Chronicles 29:21-25).
___When Adonijah learned the coup had failed, he fled to the altar and grasped its horns. Perhaps he sought the promise of mercy and fair judgment mentioned in Exodus 21:13-14, but remember this asylum was offered to one presumed to possess at least some degree of innocence.
___The first exchange between Solomon and Adonijah is chronicled in 1:51-53, and in this short conversation Solomon displayed the type of wisdom evident in the years of his reign. Solomon placed the responsibility for a future with hope and promise squarely on the shoulders of Adonijah--he will live "If he shows himself to be a worthy man" (1:52). Note that Adonijah had the opportunity to recognize God's plan for the nation, i.e., Solomon as king, and Adonijah could serve the nation and God with honor.
___On the other hand, Solomon warned Adonijah of the possibility for failure, the danger of sliding back down the slippery slope of aggressive, rebellious self-promotion apart from and counter to God's plan, "but if evil is found in him, he will die" (1:52). Adonijah had to decide whether he would follow a loving Lord with a perfect plan for the future or regress into the certain disaster of self-will and self-promotion--beware the "I will be" (1:5).
___Stubborn ambition
___Fast forward now to the time all knew was coming: David died after reigning as king over Israel 40 years (2:11). Solomon's time of co-regency with his father ended, and Adonijah now had the opportunity to show himself a worthy man. The evidence from the text (2:13-25), however, suggests Adonijah still thought the kingdom should be his (2:15). Perhaps he thought he should be king as the elder son (Adonijah was in his mid-30s; Solomon was in his early 20s), or, worse yet, because his good looks and charm had gained him followers so easily (1:7, 9; 2:15). Oh, and don't forget, the author notes that David seemed negligent in pursuing his parental duties of raising children (1:6).
___Adonijah chose to pursue a ruse designed to attempt once again to wrest the kingship from Solomon. The plan was relatively simple: Take possession of the last concubine in the king's harem (Abishag, 2:17), and the logical assumption would be that Adonijah indeed had gained the royal throne. Bathsheba agreed to deliver the request to King Solomon, perhaps all the while aware that this illicit request finally would remove Adonijah as a threat to Solomon's reign.
___Adonijah forfeited his life because of his insatiable desire to supplant God's design with his own self-centered plan. In the end, however, the young man forfeited even more--he could have enjoyed a long life of fruitful and fulfilling work in the kingdom beside his brother, King Solomon. Instead, his determined and shortsighted selfish ambition worked only to short-circuit God's ideal plan for his life. May we read, take it to heart and learn!
___Questions for discussion
___ Can ambition be both a positive and negative force in life? If so, give appropriate examples.
___ How should we evaluate our ambitions to determine if they are constructive or destructive?
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