1 Kings 1:26
“But me, even me thy servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and thy servant Solomon, hath he not called.”
When Adonijah presumptuously took the throne of Israel while David was still alive, it is astonishing to see how the people foolishly followed him. It is sad that though David was alive, Adonijah had a philosophy that his dad was too old to really lead and that he had better ideas for Israel. Beyond that fact, there were some definite symptoms that something was wrong. These symptoms should have been seen by all of Israel, but they blindly followed this foolish young man, and to the detriment of some. Let me show you the symptoms they should have seen.
First, he avoided the preacher. Adonijah didn’t call Nathan the prophet, instead he avoided him for he knew his actions were wrong. You can always tell when someone is wrong because they avoid the preacher. It is not that the preacher is anyone of himself, but it is Who he represents that makes him special. When a young person doesn’t want to be around the preacher, then you can be assured that something is wrong. When a Christian avoids the preacher, you can be confident that something is wrong. If you are doing right, you will have no problem being around the preacher, but when you are not doing right you don’t want anything to do with him.
Second, he avoided the spiritual leaders. Adonijah not only avoided Nathan the prophet, but he also avoided Zadok the priest. Zadok would have been a positive spiritual influence in his life, but he avoided him. This should have alerted Israel something was wrong when he avoided the spiritual leaders in his life. When someone wants nothing to do with the spiritual leaders whom God has placed in their life, then something’s wrong. When you avoid your Sunday school teacher, church staff leaders and spiritual leaders who have influenced you in the past, then something is wrong. If you are doing right, you will want those spiritual leaders involved in your life.
Third, he avoided his family. It is interesting that Adonijah did not tell his father David what he was doing, neither did he invite Solomon or any other family members because he knew he was wrong. When a person shuts out their family, there is something definitely wrong. Parents should always be alerted when their child is avoiding them and other family members. Someone is turning their heart away from family. When a person is right with God they will not avoid their family, rather they will be drawn closer to them.
Fourth, he avoided his parent’s influences. Adonijah didn’t want Benaiah to be a part of his kingdom. Benaiah was in charge of David’s guards. In other words, he would have been an advisor to the king. When a person avoids the positive influences from the past who influenced their parents and spiritual leaders, then something is wrong. It is always a definite sign that something is wrong when someone criticizes the methods and men of God from the past.
You must be wary of individuals who have these four symptoms in their lives. People who avoid these influences will be a negative influence in your life. Avoid these people and have nothing to do with them. These four influences are important to anyone’s life and should never be avoided if you want God to bless you. Be sure that in your own life you are not avoiding these influences. Let these four areas constantly influence you for right.