1 Kings: Walk Before Me FaithfullyNäide

Leadership is a significant issue in the Bible, and in church and society today. The Books of Kings will keep reminding us of this theme. King David, great but far from perfect, is dying. Which of his sons will succeed him? 

The eldest remaining son, Adonijah, ‘put himself forward’ to announce he would be king (v. 5). He forms an alliance of backers, like a coup, and has a celebratory feast. Immediately we are meant to be on alert because of his character of pride. Here is not a man after God’s own heart, as David had been, but one whose pride shows him to be self-serving. 

Whether of a nation or a church, proud leaders end up serving themselves and putting their own egos and reputations first. Who are the greatest leaders you have known and what made them so? Where have you seen a leader’s pride be part of their downfall?

In modern times, we often value people by their good looks. So we might expect a very handsome man like Adonijah (v. 6) to be popular. King Saul had also been handsome, but he proved a failure as king. Exactly how is attractiveness prized these days? Why should we be more concerned with good character instead? 

David was keen not to lift a hand against Saul, despite David being anointed to succeed Saul. When we remember David’s angry reaction to the man who killed Saul, we ought to be wary of anyone who seeks to depose the Lord’s anointed king, as Adonijah is seeking to do. Even though David is old (v. 1), and by implication ineffectual as a leader, he remains God’s choice. His attendants’ quest for a woman to sleep beside David, non-sexually (v. 4), suggests simply that his blood circulation is poor. 

No one is perfect, and yet so often instability in church, and society, is brought on by pride against chosen leaders. Christians ought to be slow to oppose their church leaders.

Reflection

Pray for your church leaders to enjoy the support of God’s people and to be loyal to God.