Seven years ago, I attended a revival at a local church where a visiting pastor from Georgia did a teaching on Psalm 23. I knew Psalm 23 well, but I honestly hadn't heard anyone do a teaching about it before him. What I remember most vividly from his sermon that night was the end. He sat down at a table with food on it and asked the audience "who is sitting at your table?" Although it was a simple question, it was a necessary one and the LORD used it to get me up from a table that hadn't been prepared for me.
Last week, our ministry started a new study of 1 Kings. It's the book that the LORD put on my heart back in November of last year and so far, so good. I lead Bible Study twice a week on Monday evenings and Wednesday mornings, and after our Wednesday session where I taught from chapter 1, this is the revelation that I received...
The presence of prominent men doesn't automatically equate to no presence of sin.
In 1 Kings 1, King David's son Adonijah dubbed himself king and conspired to take the throne of Israel. He was fully aware that what he was doing was wrong, which is why he chose not to invite Nathan the prophet that advised his father and his brother Solomon whom the LORD had already told King David would succeed him on the throne. Adonijah was able to get several people to participate in his treason, including two men from David's inner circle: Joab the commander of Israel's army at the time and Abiathar a priest for the LORD.
Thankfully, Nathan had the wisdom to bring this matter to King David's attention before Adonijah's plan could fully manifest itself, and David had his son Solomon anointed as the next king of Israel. Since Adonijah was too busy gassing himself up, someone had to come and inform him about what happened.
"Now Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard [the people rejoicing] as they finished eating. And when Joab heard the sound of the horn, he said 'Why is the city in such a noisy uproar?' While he was still speaking, there came Jonathan, the son of Abiathar the priest. And Adonijah said to him, 'Come in, for you are a prominent man, and bring good news.' Then Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, 'No! Our lord King David has made Solomon king'... So all the guests who were with Adonijah were afraid, and arose, and each one with his way." - 1 Kings 1:41-43, 49
Here they were a group of prominent men (and I'm sure there were a few regular folks there too) eating, mingling, and celebrating someone that God didn't send nor did he confirm. I'm sure that some of the people at the table probably assumed it was okay to do this simply because of who was there supporting Adonijah. There's also no need for any of us to pretend like we haven't ever followed what someone else was doing without asking questions first and getting the facts beforehand only for it to not turn out well for us in the end.
That's why we shouldn't automatically assume that God has sanctioned something or established someone because of who's hanging out with them. The presence of prominent ministers does not indicate holiness or God's approval. It also doesn't mean that we've got the green light to do what they're doing and copy how they're doing it. In 1 John 4:1, it says to "test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world", which is why we have to remind ourselves daily that God is our standard not man.
With everything that has and will take place in the world, we can't afford to be lazy about seeking the LORD first because it could be the difference between life & death. A few people lost their lives because of Adonijah's lie, and unfortunately, this is still happening today. But it doesn't have to be this way for those that are in Jesus Christ. Just ask the Father, and He will guide you into all truth.
Have you ever gone along to get along and it not work out for you?
