Now that the three clear stages of growth in terms of revelation have been established, let us search out the blessed truths hidden in the different loyalties in First Kings Chapter One.
5Now Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself,
saying, “I will be king.” So he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen with
fifty men to run before him.6His father had never
crossed him at any time by asking, “Why have you done so?” And he was also a
very handsome man, and he was born after Absalom.7He had conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and
with Abiathar the priest; and following Adonijah they helped him.8But Zadok the priest, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada,
Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and the mighty men who belonged to David, were
not with Adonijah." (1 Kings 1: 5-8)
Here is the outline explaining the names for Adonijah's camp:
Adonijah — "Jah is my Lord"
Joab — "Jah is Father"
Zeruiah — "Jah is appearing"
Abiathar — "Yah is superfluity" – "athar" implies the overwhelming presence of sweet-smelling sacrifices.
Here is the outline of the names and explanations of those who remained true to David and His successor Solomon:
David — "Beloved"
Solomon — "Peace" — Jesus is our peace (Ephesians 2: 14)
Zadok — "Righteous"
Benaiah — "Jah is Wisdom"
Jehoiada — "Jah Knows"
Nathamn — "Giver"
"Shimei" — "Jah is Fame"
Rei — "Jah is Friend"
As for the mighty men, try four hundred! (1 Samuel 22: 1-4)
For those who start out in their walk, the see God as Lord – and He is. Yet the Lord wants us to see Him as the source of every good thing. The Lord wants us to depend on Him and draw from Him everything:
"31What shall we
then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
32He that spared
not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also
freely give us all things? 33Who shall lay any
thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34Who is he
that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again,
who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." (Romans 8: 31-34)
and
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4: 13)
then
"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ
Jesus." (Philippians 4: 19)
and
"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last." (Revelation 22: 13)
Under Adonijah, the emphasis rest on the Father, and all that He is. There is an appearing of Jesus, but the Father wants to reveal more, which rests in His Son!
So let us look to those who followed David the Beloved, and his Son Peace:
Jesus is our righteousness (1 Corinthians 1: 30). Through Christ, we not only know the Father, but we can trust that He knows us, too! In Christ, we understand the Giving Heart of the Father. We find our fame in Christ, and He is the fame of the Father. We know the friendship of God through His Son:
"Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord
doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my
Father I have made known unto you." (John 15: 15)
With Christ, we have all the protection that we need — more than four hundred mighty men!
Grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord. See Jesus, see more of Him, and let him establish you in all things.