ESOCS Devotional 18 April 2026 – Beware of Self-Exaltation
MEMORY VERSE: “”Now Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, put himself forward and said, ‘I will be king.’ So he got chariots and horses ready, with fifty men to run ahead of him.” 1 Kings 1:5 (NIV)
TEXT: 1 KINGS 1:5-31
Then 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. 6 (And his father had not rebuked him at any time by saying, “Why have you done so?” He was also very good-looking. His mother had borne him after Absalom.) 7 Then he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they followed and helped Adonijah. 8 But Zadok the priest, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and the mighty men who belonged to David were not with Adonijah.
9 And Adonijah sacrificed sheep and oxen and fattened cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by En Rogel; he also invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah, the king’s servants. 10 But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, or Solomon his brother.
11 So Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, “Have you not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith has become king, and David our lord does not know it? 12 Come, please, let me now give you advice, that you may save your own life and the life of your son Solomon. 13 Go immediately to King David and say to him, ‘Did you not, my lord, O king, swear to your maidservant, saying, “Assuredly your son Solomon shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne”? Why then has Adonijah become king?’ 14 Then, while you are still talking there with the king, I also will come in after you and confirm your words.”
15 So Bathsheba went into the chamber to the king. (Now the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was serving the king.) 16 And Bathsheba bowed and did homage to the king. Then the king said, “What is your wish?”
17 Then she said to him, “My lord, you swore by the Lord your God to your maidservant, saying, ‘Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne.’ 18 So now, look! Adonijah has become king; and now, my lord the king, you do not know about it. 19 He has sacrificed oxen and fattened cattle and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the sons of the king, Abiathar the priest, and Joab the commander of the army; but Solomon your servant he has not invited. 20 And as for you, my lord, O king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, that you should tell them who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. 21 Otherwise it will happen, when my lord the king rests with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon will be counted as offenders.”
22 And just then, while she was still talking with the king, Nathan the prophet also came in. 23 So they told the king, saying, “Here is Nathan the prophet.” And when he came in before the king, he bowed down before the king with his face to the ground. 24 And Nathan said, “My lord, O king, have you said, ‘Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne’? 25 For he has gone down today, and has sacrificed oxen and fattened cattle and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the king’s sons, and the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest; and look! They are eating and drinking before him; and they say, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’ 26 But he has not invited me—me your servant—nor Zadok the priest, nor Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, nor your servant Solomon. 27 Has this thing been done by my lord the king, and you have not told your servant who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?”
28 Then King David answered and said, “Call Bathsheba to me.” So she came into the king’s presence and stood before the king. 29 And the king took an oath and said, “As the Lord lives, who has redeemed my life from every distress, 30 just as I swore to you by the Lord God of Israel, saying, ‘Assuredly Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place,’ so I certainly will do this day.”
31 Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the earth, and paid homage to the king, and said, “Let my lord King David live forever!”
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“The story of Adonijah in 1 Kings 1:5 is a powerful warning against self-exaltation, the act of promoting oneself above God’s plan or timing.
Adonijah, the son of King David, saw an opportunity to claim the throne for himself. He “put himself forward” and declared, “I will be king,” even though God had already chosen Solomon to succeed David. Instead of waiting on God’s appointment, he tried to force his way to power.
Self-exaltation often disguises itself as ambition, confidence, or even entitlement. But at its root, it reflects a lack of trust in God’s timing and a desire to control outcomes. It leads to pride, division, and ultimately, downfall, just as Adonijah’s coup failed.
Scripture is clear: “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up” (James 4:10). Promotion that comes from God lasts; promotion we force ourselves often leads to destruction.
True greatness in God’s kingdom is not found in self-promotion but in servanthood, humility, and obedience.
Reflections
- Are there areas in your life where you are trying to “put yourself forward” without seeking God’s direction?
- How do you respond when God’s timing seems slower than you expected?
- What’s the difference between godly ambition and self-exaltation? How can you tell which one is motivating you?
- Who can you learn from in Scripture or your life who modelled humility and trusted God to elevate them?
Action Step
Take time today to evaluate your motives. Ask God to reveal any area where pride may be driving your decisions. Surrender your plans to Him and invite His will to guide your steps.
Prayer
- Lord, I surrender every ambition and desire for recognition that is not aligned with your will.
- Help me to trust your timing and exaltation, not my efforts.
Create in me a humble heart that seeks to serve rather than be seen. I want to walk in your purpose, not my priden Jesus’ name, Amen.
Further Reading: Exodus 1:1-End; John 1:1-18; Ephesians 4:1-16
ESOCS Devotional 18 April 2026
