The Way of the Serpent - 1 Kings STARTS
The book of 1 Kings starts off in a familiar manner. Once again the kingdom of David is challenged by insurrection through an undisciplined son of David.
1 Kings 1:5–6 (ESV) Now Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king.” And he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. 6 His father had never at any time displeased him by asking, “Why have you done thus and so?” He was also a very handsome man, and he was born next after Absalom.
What's interesting about Adonijah's uprising is who follows him and who does not.
1 Kings 1:7–8 (ESV) He conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest. And they followed Adonijah and helped him. 8 But Zadok the priest and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada and Nathan the prophet and Shimei and Rei and David’s mighty men were not with Adonijah.
1 Kings 1:9–10 (ESV) Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fattened cattle by the Serpent’s Stone, which is beside En-rogel, and he invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the royal officials of Judah, 10 but he did not invite Nathan the prophet or Benaiah or the mighty men or Solomon his brother.
Now we are given a clear hint at what Adonijah's activity is about. He sacrifices by the Serpent's stone! Now he does not invite everyone here. He knows that some are truly with David and some are easily manipulated. In every age and every kingdom, there are those who willingly follow beauty and insurrection, perhaps secretly thinking they deserve more recognition, power and privilege than they currently enjoy! It is that old serpent mentality from Genesis alive and well under the kingdom of David.
The questions every generation must ask itself are these: Will I follow the way of the serpent? Will I be part of the insurrection based on beauty, pride, self-will and division? Will I be easily manipulated by these things? Will I be seduced by the lofty claims of the power-grabbers?
This event in David's life is a picture of the age in which we currently live. The Lord Jesus reigns but there will be time before He returns to physically rule. During that time, Jesus warned, many will arise and claim to be the anointed one. Sadly, the Lord warned that they will gain a following!
Matthew 24:11 (ESV) And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.
1 Kings 1:5–6 (ESV) Now Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king.” And he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. 6 His father had never at any time displeased him by asking, “Why have you done thus and so?” He was also a very handsome man, and he was born next after Absalom.
Adonijah's move here is a familiar event indeed. The handsome son of David and younger brother to Absalom decides he's going to make himself greater than all. We notice that he is described as handsome. We should not dismiss the fact that scripture makes no bones about the fact that outward appearance is often hand in hand with pride, rebellion and ultimately disruption. This, of course, was Satan's problem in heaven before Creation.
1 Kings 1:7–8 (ESV) He conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest. And they followed Adonijah and helped him. 8 But Zadok the priest and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada and Nathan the prophet and Shimei and Rei and David’s mighty men were not with Adonijah.
It would appear that those who joined Adonijah were the men under David's rule who loved to take action quickly. Joab was always ruthlessly impulsive, killing at will to build the kingdom. As for Abiathar, we remember him as the only priest to escape Saul's slaughter at Nob (1 Samuel 21). He joined David while Saul was king and perhaps saw the writing on the wall here with David's old age and joined the young upstart movement in that same vein. Notice that Zadok, Benaiah and Nathan do not join Adonijah. The first thing handsome Adonijah brings to his rule is division.
1 Kings 1:9–10 (ESV) Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fattened cattle by the Serpent’s Stone, which is beside En-rogel, and he invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the royal officials of Judah, 10 but he did not invite Nathan the prophet or Benaiah or the mighty men or Solomon his brother.
Now we are given a clear hint at what Adonijah's activity is about. He sacrifices by the Serpent's stone! Now he does not invite everyone here. He knows that some are truly with David and some are easily manipulated. In every age and every kingdom, there are those who willingly follow beauty and insurrection, perhaps secretly thinking they deserve more recognition, power and privilege than they currently enjoy! It is that old serpent mentality from Genesis alive and well under the kingdom of David.
The questions every generation must ask itself are these: Will I follow the way of the serpent? Will I be part of the insurrection based on beauty, pride, self-will and division? Will I be easily manipulated by these things? Will I be seduced by the lofty claims of the power-grabbers?
This event in David's life is a picture of the age in which we currently live. The Lord Jesus reigns but there will be time before He returns to physically rule. During that time, Jesus warned, many will arise and claim to be the anointed one. Sadly, the Lord warned that they will gain a following!
Matthew 24:11 (ESV) And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.
Christian, we have been warned about this age. The great challenge is to remain faithful to Christ when many will boastfully seek their own glory and praise. Keep your eye on Him. Look to Him and resist the "image-centric" cult of personality. Adonijah's power will NOT LAST and his story is on the ash heap of self-glorifying persons who followed the path of the serpent instead of seeking the will of the Savior.
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