Power! Some people plot to take it. — 1 Kings 1:5, 7, 49–50, 52
They scheme and coerce others to gain it.
We see this with Adonijah when King David was old and ready to pass.
1 Kings 1:5, 7 (NIV84): 5 Now Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, put himself forward and said, “I will be king.” So he got chariots and horses ready, with fifty men to run ahead of him…
7 Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they gave him their support.
It appeared at first that his plan was working. He gathered many leaders, made sacrifices, and held a feast.
But God had not given him that right, nor had David. Nathan, the prophet. (Remember the one who lives in truth and pointed out David’s sin.) He sets things right with permission from the king and establishes Solomon as king. Then the word comes to Adonijah as his party was ending:
1 Kings 1:49–50 (NIV84): 49 At this, all Adonijah’s guests rose in alarm and dispersed. 50 But Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, went and took hold of the horns of the altar.
Taking hold of the alter is a desperate plea for refuge and to try to save his life.
Solomon hears of this and says:
1 Kings 1:52 (NIV84): 52 Solomon replied, “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.”
Later, Solomon let’s him go.
But is this person seeking power really innocent? Working a scheme to take power above those whom it was already appointed?
There is so much here in this text. But what is screaming at me is don’t fight reality. Don’t try to make your own reality with your scheming. Don’t plot for control or power. Though you may appear to win in the beginning, the truth will win out in the end.
I am asking myself: What reality am I trying to change? Where am I trying to control? How can I accept how God has established the thing in front of me?
Help me, Lord, not to seek power but to do your will.
