I Kings 1:9
“Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fattened steers by the stone of Zoheleth, which is beside En-rogel; and he invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah, the king’s servants.”
Adonijah wants to be king. In today’s verse he is hosting a dinner and inviting his brothers and those in Judah who served his father. He is seeking their support. The problem is that Solomon was promised the throne and Adonijah is seeking to wrest it from him. This party is his effort to do so. I call this a work of the flesh (Galatians 5:19). These are our efforts to fulfill our goals outside of God’s will.
The beginning of the Lord’s Prayer says, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done”. When we come to Christ, we accept Him as lord and savior. If He is our lord, we do what He says. This means we do what He has instructed in the bible. If we don’t know it, then that’s why we go to church and listen to messages on the radio. We also read it on our own. We have christian friends in which we encourage and challenge each other with what we are learning.
God also speaks to our hearts through our minds (I Kings 19:12). He does this to everyone. If we listen to it, then He gives more. If we ignore it, then our hearts get calloused and we grow dull of hearing. The parable of the sower is a great example of how the listening, obedient heart becomes a garden of God.
Adonijah was not walking in obedience. How do we know which of our dreams, ideas or goals are of God? If it’s referenced in the bible, that’s what we do. Much isn’t in the bible. What do we do then? We look at why we want to do it. Is it based in pride? Jesus gave a parable in which He encourages us not to exalt ourselves in Luke 14. A party was given and we are to choose a seat. Don’t choose the seat of honor, as we may be told to move and thus be embarrassed. But we are to choose the lower seat. We may be told to move up and thus be honored. Does our idea seek to advance ourselves in an unhealthy way? If so, it’s probably not of God.
Some ideas are good, we have to monitor how much passion and time we put into it. If too much, then it’s becoming an idol and replacing God and others. We have to listen to that still, small voice. Others will give us feedback. Let that help gauge how much time we invest in it.
God also works through circumstances to monitor what we are doing (Acts 16:6-10). We may attempt to make a phone call and it’s busy or all our attempts are blocked at moving forward. Ask God if He is trying to tell us something. Acknowledge His lordship. “Lord, I don’t want to proceed, if You’re not in this.” He may be saying, “Slow down”, “Not now” or “Not that way”. If it’s insignificant, I abandon the idea if it’s of God or not. If it’s something I want to do I may wait or try other routes. Do all this in prayer.
Adonijah should have asked his father. He would have told him that Solomon was to be king. Asking advice is a good thing. Especially in large ventures.
Lord, thank You for this great life. Thank You that life Your way is amazing. Thank You that You want to guide and bless. Give us ears to hear that still, small voice.