1 Kings 1:5

1Kings 1:5 says, Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty before him.  David was now old, and another of his sons, his fourth born, decided that he would be king, and declared himself so, and armed himself with chariots and men.  David seemed to have a lot of problems with many of his sons.  Just because our father served as an important part of the church doesn't mean we can just assume his position when he gets old or dies.  God must call us to that position and we see nothing in this account about God choosing Adonijah to replace David.  We also need to understand that just because we are a Christian it doesn't mean that we won't have problems with our children.  Verse six adds, And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Absalom.  David had not displeased Adonijah at any time, though Matthew Henry says he had likely displeased David many times.  Our children may even look up to us and yet not do what God expects them to do.  Verse seven continues, And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him.  Adonijah talked with Joab and Abiathar the priest and got them to support him.  Joab, as the head of the army might have just expected Adonijah to be the next king, but Abiathar as a priest should have consulted God about it.  We as followers of Christ are a part of the priesthood of believers, and we should never make any decisions without consulting God first.  Verse eight states, But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men which belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.  One military man and one priest might have supported Adonijah, but one priest, Zadok, and a prophet, Nathan, and three of David's mighty men, Benaiah, Shimei and Rei, didn't.  Sometimes, we may have divisions in the church today, but if we do, we need to be on the side following God.  Verse nine adds, And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by Enrogel, and called all his brethren the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah the king’s servants:  Adonijah prepared a feast and called all his brothers, the people of Judah, and the David's servants to it.  Matthew Henry says he was trying to win them over to support him by having this feast.  People still try to use their money and position to influence others to support them in whatever they may be doing or proposing to do.  Verse ten continues, But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not.  Nathan, Benaiah, David’s mighty men, and Solomon were not invited to join Adonijah at this feast.  Unless we know for a fact that someone who is attempting to assume a position of power in the church today is acting under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, even if they attempt to influence people to support them by using some material method, we are better off not being invited and should not join them if we are unless we have sought the guidance of the Holy Spirit and been assured that we should.