To exalt: “to hold someone in very high regard; to think or speak very highly of.” Also, “to make noble in character; to dignify.” As you ponder these definitions, I have a question to accompany them. If you don’t exalt yourself, who will?
I think self-exaltation comes very naturally to us. We do what we think is good and we want others to know about it. We want others to know how good we are and how capable we are of achieving. As we announce our good to the world, we hope for the accolades that come along with achievement. A pat on the back, a high five, a celebration dinner, a promotion, an award, a raise. But back to our original question, how will these rewards and celebrations ever come if we don’t bring them about by alerting the world that we’re due?
Welcome to the book of 1 Kings. The second in a trifecta of double books. Samuel has 2 books, Kings has 2 books and Chronicles has 2 books. The historical scrolls of each book were originally one super long manuscript, each was divided later for simplicity. We saw in 1 and 2 Samuel the rise of the first Israelite kings, Saul and David. First and second Kings will simply follow the chronological succession of the continuation of Israelite kings, starting with Solomon, David’s son. But in order for Solomon to reach the throne, there has to be a little bit of jockeying. You see, yet one more guy has his eyes on the throne, this time David’s 4th son, Adonijah. Let’s allow scripture to formally introduce Adonijah.
“Now Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king.” And he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. His father had never at any time displeased him by asking, “Why have you done thus and so?” He was also a very handsome man, and he was born next after Absalom.” 1 Kings 1:5-6
Here we go again. Absalom, Sheba and now Adonijah have all stepped up to try and snatch the throne away from David. And folks, the similarities between these three are scary. All three thoroughly believed they were worthy of the throne. They knew they deserved to be the next king. The only problem with their view? The rest of the world was unaware of how worthy they were. So, they had to go and tell the world, they had to exalt themselves. They went on campaign, they went band wagoning, they put on parades for themselves. They had a message they needed to get out. I’m awesome.
We see in our study verse that Adonijah took a page out of the book of the first two master promoters. First off, we are told he was very handsome. Have you noticed how good-looking people are generally sold in God’s Word? We were specifically told of how great looking Saul was. But his heart was ugly. We were also told of how handsome Absalom was, even to the point that his hair was right out of a Pantene commercial. Yet his heart was unattractive. How strange that God seems to be sending a message about being wary of attractive people that are exalting themselves. (1 Samuel 16:7) All three men also exemplified the proper image. And what is that image? One of wealth, power, affluence, and control. You know, it’s pretty funny in this life, most people can present the image but little else. Adonijah had lots of chariots, horsemen and even 50 bodyguards to run before him but did that somehow make him a better leader?
We’re also given an interesting little nugget in our study verse; it seems Adonijah was raised as quite the little spoiled brat. It seems that with David having so many wives and kids and spending so much time on the battlefield, that very little good parenting was done. Adonijah had been indulged as the son of a king and he didn’t know what the word no meant. He was a prince, was in line for the throne and decided to take it for himself.
So, in all of this self-exalting, you have to wonder, does God have anything to say about it? Well, as a matter of fact, He does. You see, there is only One who truly exalts and it is not ourselves, friends, bosses, spouses, parents, organizations or governments. Exaltation comes from only one place and it comes for only one reason, to the heart that God deems worthy. To the heart that bows to all, to the heart that selflessly loves all, to the heart that sees all others as higher than itself, to the heart that sees God as the only one that can raise up.
“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 14:11
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you” 1 Peter 5:6
“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” Matthew 23:12
“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.” James 4:10
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3
“For not from the east or from the west and not from the wilderness comes lifting up, but it is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another.” Psalm 75:6-7
Today, there is no need to exalt yourself. God sees all that you do. Today there is no need to tell people the good you have done. God knows. Today, there is no need to present an image that you believe will forward your agenda. God sees your heart and the thoughts that flow from it. Do good to all, regardless of what you think they deserve. Love all, even when they are seemingly unlovable. Do what is best for others first, even when it hurts. For it is in this way that you will be taking small steps towards becoming more like our Savior Jesus Christ. The Son of God came to this world to die for a people that rejected Him. But because He came and died for sinners, we can live. Thank you, Jesus, that you came and humbled yourself before a world that hated you so. You came so that those that call upon your name might live eternally with you. Thank you.
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:3-11
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