It may be said that his conduct was natural enough, although it was too precipitate, because he would legitimately succeed his father in due course, as his eldest surviving son.  But this was not so.  The law of primogeniture was not law for Israel.  The invisible King expressly reserved to Himself the right of appointing the ruler of His people, as is evident from Deut. xvii. 14 and 15.  The government was theocratic, not monarchical nor democratic.  David himself had been chosen and anointed in preference to Jonathan, Saul’s son, and Solomon, David’s younger son, had already been designated as his successor through the prophet Nathan, partly because he was best fitted to become the man of peace who should erect Jehovah’s temple, and partly as a sign to David that his sin with Bathsheba was forgiven.  It was not as the “leader of a court cabal,” but as a prophet inspired by Jehovah, that Nathan had made this solemn appointment.  Adonijah knew this perfectly well; he acknowledged it to Bathsheba in the fifteenth verse of the second chapter, and therefore, when he declared, “I will be king,” he was deliberately and knowingly setting his will against God’s, and this was a sin.

The divine choice often differs from the human, for “the Lord seeth not as man seeth.”  In his reply to the sons of Zebedee, Jesus declared that God is not swayed by favouritism, nor moved by arbitrary impulse, but assigns to each his position according to his fitness.  This should give us contentment with our lot, and should emphasise the precept, “Seekest thou great things for thyself; seek them not.”  Though it is natural enough to wish for escape from the fret of poverty, or the weariness of pain, and to win for ourselves wealth or prominence, we must be on our guard against the indulgence of defiant self-will, like that of him who said, “I will be king.”

Adonijah’s motive in aspiring to the throne was not that he might the better care for the welfare of others, but that he might selfishly enjoy wealth and honour.  He cared much for outward show, while he failed to cultivate inward worth, preparing for himself chariots, horsemen, and a retinue of servants, but never displaying a love of justice or ability in statesmanship.  And such little motives as his never make greatness.

Adonijah was not the last to be attracted by glitter and tinsel, and to live for earthly things which perish in the using.  The candidate who cares much for honour and nothing for learning, the professional man who will sacrifice reputation to win a fortune, and all who wrong others in order to better themselves, only gain what is transient and unsatisfying.  It would be well for all to learn the lesson (not least he for whom the ceremony is primarily intended), which is symbolically taught when a Pope is crowned.  The Master of the Ceremonies takes a lighted taper in one hand, and in the other a reed with a handful of flax fastened to it.  The flax flares up for