Then Nathan asked Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, “Have you not heard that Adonijah, has become king, and our lord David knows nothing about it? 12 Now then, let me advise you how you can save your own life and the life of your son Solomon. 1 Kings 1:11, 12
It’s not uncommon that people intend to intervene, disrupt or control our lives without our knowledge. When that happens we are defenseless because “without knowledge people perish.” (Hosea 4:6).
It’s what happened to Solomon. His brother, Adonijah, determined to become the king even though His father...who was not yet dead...had promised his throne to Solomon. In Adonijah’s defense, he was next in line for the throne if tradition were followed. Even so, Adonijah had not discussed this with his father. In fact, he did not confer with anybody who was loyal to king David. He simply went ahead with his plans and held a big coronation party with all his friends.
Far from Jerusalem, or course...
Had Adonijah been successful he would have turned his father’s plan for future leadership of Israel on its head. Since the throne of Israel was given, by Divine covenant, to David...Adonijah’s theft was a pretty big deal.
God noticed...
Enter Nathan...
It occurs to me that we all need a Nathan in our lives...somebody who has the ear of God and can keep us apprised of the dangers and tricks that threaten to derail God’s fondest hopes for our lives. Our greatest threats, however, do not come from our brothers or our acquaintances. They come from the father of lies...Satan himself. And he never tells us his plans to deceive us. He simply does it...constantly. I have found I am most often tripped up by the Devil when I am least tuned in to the voice of truth. And, sadly, I am often caught completely unawares. I’d like to be smarter but I’m not. If we aren’t vigilant and heed the voice of our Nathan our lives can crumble.
However, Nathans are difficult to find...
So...God has given us His Spirit to live in us. “When the Spirit of truth comes to us He will guide us into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell us what he has heard. He will tell us about the future.” (John 16:3) I assure you of this: The only way the devil can steal God’s dreams from us is if we fail to listen carefully and constantly to His Spirit. And sometimes He will find a Nathan to speak His words. But...if not...we can never say “nobody told me...”
Who is speaking to you?
Live boldly out there today...
