"His father had never at any time displeased him by saying, 'Why have you done thus and so?' He was also a very handsome man, and he was born next after Absalom." 1 Kings 1:6 (ESV)
We all know how typical Filipino kunsintidor culture works, whether in our families or in our old religious systems. When someone looks the part, talks smooth, or holds a high position, we let them get away with anything. No hard questions asked. Just blind loyalty and special treatment.
That is the exact mess we walk into in 1 Kings 1.
King David is old, frail, and shivering in bed. Sensing a power vacuum, his fourth son, Adonijah, decides it is his turn to be king. He buys the royal image: chariots, horsemen, and fifty men running ahead of him. Why? Verse 6 hits the nail on the head: David never once corrected him. Never asked, "Anak, what are you doing?" Because Adonijah was handsome and next in line after Absalom, David gave him a lifetime pass.
Unwarranted favor always breeds entitlement. Because David coddled him, Adonijah confused his father’s silence with God’s approval. He threw a massive coronation feast and invited Joab and Abiathar the priest, guys who were loyal to the old guard. Notice who he deliberately left off the guest list: Nathan the prophet, Zadok the priest, and his younger brother Solomon. Adonijah avoided anyone who would speak God’s actual word to him.
Coming out of Adventism, we know what it feels like to give unwarranted favor to a system, a prophetess, or traditions that demand our loyalty while ignoring the finished work of Christ. We used to excuse theological red flags because the package looked "moral" and familiar. We let legalism sit on the throne of our hearts without ever asking, "Why are you doing this? Does this actually line up with the New Covenant?"
The wake-up call in the story is this: Human presumption cannot hijack God’s covenant.
God had already promised the throne to Solomon, a picture of the true Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, whose kingdom is advancing in our world right now. However, notice how God’s plan unfolds. God is sovereign, yet He works through real human responsibility. Nathan doesn't just sit back and say, "Well, God will sort it out." He goes to Bathsheba. They step into the king's chamber, speak the truth, and remind David of his oath.
God’s grace empowers us to act, to choose, and to stand up for the truth. When David finally wakes up and commands Solomon to be anointed at Gihon, the crowd rejoices so loudly the ground shakes. Adonijah’s fake kingdom collapses in five minutes. His guests scatter in panic, and Adonijah clings to the horns of the altar, begging Solomon for mercy.
Who or what are you unreasonably favoring today?
Maybe it is a pet sin you refuse to confront because it brings you comfort. Maybe it is an old legalistic habit from your past that makes you feel superior to other Christians. Or maybe it is a relationship or mindset you never question because it "looks good" on the outside.
Whatever you refuse to confront will eventually try to crown itself king over your life. Do not be like David, staying silent while a counterfeit takes over. Jesus is already the anointed King. He is reigning now, pushing back darkness, and building His church. Stop pampering the things that compete with His throne. Call them out, strip them of their false authority, and bow to the true King today.
Let’s Pray
Father, forgive us for the times we act like kunsintidors to our own sins, our pride, and our old religious baggage. Thank You that Jesus is the true Solomon, the rightful King who rules with both justice and mercy, whose kingdom is growing across the earth today. Give us the courage, like Nathan and Bathsheba, to confront whatever is trying to steal Your throne in our hearts. We choose to yield to Your Spirit and crown Christ alone in our homes and in our fellowship. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Small Group Discussion Questions:
1. The "Guest List" Check (1 Kings 1:7–10)
Adonijah invited the people who would hype him up and left out Nathan the prophet, the one guy who would tell him the truth. In your daily walk, who do you let speak into your life? Are you surrounding yourself with people who just agree with you, or do you allow brothers and sisters in the fellowship to ask you the hard questions?
2. Unpacking Old Baggage
Leaving Adventism behind is a process, and sometimes we still act like kunsintidors to our old mindsets. What is one leftover habit, fear, or superior attitude from our former system that we sometimes still excuse or "baby" instead of confronting with the grace of the New Covenant?
3. Faith That Steps Up (1 Kings 1:11–14)
God had already promised the throne to Solomon, yet Nathan and Bathsheba still had to step up, speak out, and take action. How do we balance trusting that Jesus is already reigning as King with our own daily responsibility to actively fight sin, speak truth, and advance His kingdom in our homes and communities?
4. Dethroning the Counterfeits
Adonijah looked like a king on the outside, handsome, royal, and impressive, even though he had no right to the throne. What is something in your life right now that "looks good" or feels harmless on the surface, yet is quietly competing with Jesus for first place in your heart? What is one step you can take this week to dethrone it?
FORMER ADVENTISTS PHILIPPINES
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