Psalm 75:6-7 (NKJV) For exaltation comes neither from the east Nor from the west nor from the south. But God is the Judge: He puts down one, And exalts another.
There is much to be learnt from Adonijah and Absalom. They were both sons of King David, who rebelled against their father in attempts to seize the throne of Israel. Both declared themselves kings without King David’s blessing. It was a coup against the king and their father.
God is omniscient, knowing the hearts of men. Adonijah exalted himself; he was rebellious, presumptuous, and full of ambition. When David grew old and weak, he showed his rebelliousness by saying, “I will be king” (1 Kings 1:5). He gathered chariots, horsemen, and influential supporters (including Joab, who was King David’s general, and Abiathar the priest) to make himself king without David’s consent. Later, after King Solomon ascended to the throne, Adonijah tried again to gain power by asking to marry Abishag, David’s former companion—a political move that implied a claim to the throne.
Both Absalom and Adonijah craved power and recognition rather than relationships and trust. They embodied what some would call an “orphan spirit”— a mindset that seeks to prove their worth instead of resting in the father’s love and timing. King David probably neglected them both because they were born to different mothers. As a result, they felt like orphans growing up, despite having a father, seeking his attention. Their family was dysfunctional. Insecurity, rejection, and an “orphan spirit” can drive people to act irrationally.
The people of the Old Testament were not born again. Neither Adonijah nor Absalom had a relationship with God like their father, King David, who was known as a man after God’s own heart. Because sin leads to self-centredness, they were full of themselves and rebellious. They sought attention and validation from others and longed for kingship, promoting themselves to the throne through their own efforts. They showed no regard for God, His calling on their lives, or the values their father promoted. Both of their lives ended tragically—Absalom was caught in a tree and hanged, while King Solomon executed Adonijah.
We can support those whom God has appointed to leadership, but what matters most is obedience and faithfulness to the work God has entrusted to us. We are the body of Christ, with Christ as the head of the church. God does not reward us based on our leadership positions. Instead, He will judge us on whether we have completed the work with the right attitude, right motive, and faithfulness in the small things.
As believers in the New Testament, we are blessed with the full counsel of God’s Word. The opening Scripture tells us that promotion does not come from the East or the West, but from the Lord’s plan for our lives. Our gifts, talents, and good attitude will pave the way for our promotion because promotion originates from the Lord. We are confident in His plan for our lives and will not create strife to attain promotion prematurely because we are convinced that it is in God’s hands. Godliness with contentment is a great gain.
Sermon Series: Walk into your Calling
合乎神心意的升迁之路
诗篇75:6–7 因为高举非从东，非从西，也非从南而来；唯有神断定，他使这人降卑，使那人升高。
从亚多尼雅和押沙龙的身上，我们可以学到许多功课。他们都是大卫王的儿子，却背叛父亲，企图夺取以色列的王位。两人都在没有得到大卫王祝福的情况下，自立为王。这是一场针对君王、也是针对他们父亲的政变。
神是全知的，洞察人心。亚多尼雅自我高举，悖逆、僭越，充满野心。当大卫年老体弱时，他公然显露自己的叛逆，说：“我必作王”（列王纪上 1:5）。他为自己聚集车辆、马兵和有影响力的支持者（包括大卫王的元帅约押，以及祭司亚比亚他），在没有得到大卫同意的情况下，企图自立为王。后来，在所罗门登基之后，亚多尼雅又试图通过请求迎娶亚比煞——大卫昔日的侍女——来重新获取权力。这在政治上暗示着对王位的觊觎。
押沙龙和亚多尼雅所渴求的，并不是关系与信任，而是权力与认可。他们体现了一种有人称之为“孤儿的灵”的心态——一种急于证明自身价值，却无法安息在父亲的爱与时间中的心态。或许由于他们出生于不同的母亲，大卫王在某种程度上忽略了他们。因此，尽管有父亲在世，他们在成长过程中却像孤儿一样，渴望父亲的关注。他们的家庭关系并不健康。不安全感、被拒绝的经历，以及“孤儿的灵”，往往会驱使人做出不理性的行为。
旧约时代的人尚未重生。亚多尼雅和押沙龙都没有像他们的父亲大卫王那样，与神建立亲密的关系；大卫被称为“合神心意的人”。罪使人以自我为中心，因此他们骄傲自恃、悖逆不顺。他们从他人那里寻求关注与肯定，渴望王位，并试图凭自己的努力把自己推上宝座。他们既不顾念神，也不尊重神在他们生命中的呼召，更忽视了父亲所持守与教导的价值观。最终，他们的人生都以悲剧告终——押沙龙被挂在树上而死，亚多尼雅则被所罗门王处死。
我们可以支持神所设立的领袖，但更重要的是，是否顺服并忠心完成神托付给我们的工。我们是基督的身体，基督是教会的头。神并不是按我们的领导职位来奖赏我们，祂所看重的，是我们是否以正确的态度、纯正的动机，并在小事上持守忠心，完成了祂所交托的工作。
作为新约时代的信徒，我们蒙恩得着神话语的全备启示。开篇的经文提醒我们：升迁并非来自东方或西方，而是出于主在我们生命中的计划。我们的恩赐、才能以及良好的态度，都会为升迁预备道路，因为真正的提升是从主而来。我们确信神对我们生命的安排，因此不会为了过早得着提升而制造纷争；因为我们深知，一切都在神的手中。敬虔加上知足，便是大利。
讲章系列：走进你的呼召