David was old, in bad health and near death (1Kings1:1-4). Adonijah, his son, wanted to make himself king (1:5) in the place of his brother Solomon: And Adonijah sacrificed sheep and oxen and fatlings by the stone of Zoheleth, which is beside En-rogel; and he invited all his brothers, the king's sons, and all the men of Judah, the king's servants. But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, and Solomon his brother. (IKings1:9-10). Joab and Abiathar got invitations to Adonijah's "party"; why not Nathan, Benaiah and others? The answer may lie in this statement: "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" (vs.8). They weren't invited because Adonijah knew they wouldn't come. But how did Adonijah know this?

Look first at Nathan. When David sinned with Bathsheba, it was Nathan who courageously told him the story of the rich man who took advantage of the poor man by taking his one ewe lamb from him. And, when David said the rich man should be killed for doing such a thing, Nathan bravely told David, "You are the man!" (2Sam.12:7). Perhaps Adonijah knew of this and other demonstrations of Nathan's courage.

And what about Benaiah? His bravery was well- established and unquestioned (2Sam. 23:20-23) as was his ability to lead men (2Sam. 8:18;15:18). His hearty "amen" to David's plan (1Kings1:36-37) was typical of one who had demonstrated total commitment to his king. No doubt this is why David summoned him and the others when it was time for action (1Kings 1:32-f).

Such men would receive no invitation to a rebellion. They had made it clear that they "belonged" to David and thus were not "with" Adonijah and the rebel knew it.

What kind of invitations do you get, and from whom do you get them? Do you routinely receive overtures from worldly people for the purpose of engaging in non-spiritual things? Do you ever stop to wonder why you get them and others don't? Could it be that you've yet to make it clear to whom you "belong" and who it is you are "with"?

Jesus said "He that is not with me is against me..." (Matt.12:39). He knows those who are his (2Tim.2:19) and so do others (1Pet.4:4). Those who are "a people for God's own possession", who "show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light", and have their "behavior seemly among the Gentiles" (1Pet.2:9-12) receive few invitations from the realms of darkness. If taken seriously, Paul's encouragement to be seen "as lights in the world" (Phil.2:12-f) and his charge to "let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ" (Phil.1:27) would put an end to all evil RSVP requests from those living in rebellion to our King.