*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*
*THOU ART THE MAN...(3)*
*Scripture Treasure.*
1 Kings 1:11 *Wherefore Nathan spake unto Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not?*
*Insight and Highlight.*
You may not be in a position to judge, but at least you should be in a position to point a person to his wrongful act.
*Scripture Commentaries.*
Besides live witnesses to a wrong, a person may also provide viable and substantiated evidence that could be useful. Though a person was not privy to an offense, some circumstantial information made available to him may prove him to be useful in solving a matter.
Nathan heard of Adonijah's plan to ursup the throne from Solomon.
Circumstances around him provided enough information leading to the abortive rebellion.
We can learn from the part Nathan played in ensuring Adonijah's failure.
First, though he was not the ultimate judge, he did not cover the truth. He immediately informed Bathsheba.
He told Bathsheba to go to David and that he would be there to confirm Bathsheba's word.
In 1 Kgs 1: 24, Nathan awoke the King's conscience asking what the king and he already knew *....My lord, O king, hast thou said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne?*
Second, Nathan clearly spoke in clear language, mentioning Adonijah as the principal offender. He must have been saying Adonijah *..Thou art the man*, the author of the rebellion.
Many of us have kept quiet when we ought to speak. We often say we are not concerned. This was not a person like Nathan.
Though he would hardly benefit, he remained as one of God's most faithful and fearful servants who remained uncompromised and fearless in difficult times.
He was indeed a confrontational and daring prophet of God.
Martin Luther King (Jnr) once said, 'In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.'
He was not silent when it mattered to speak. He was a man who knew that there were times silence is not golden.
He teaches us that remaining silent in order to avoid reproving sin and not letting wrongful people know their sins could make us partakers of their sins.
We must not be partakers of other men's sins (ref 1 Tim 5:22).
We may not be acceptable to the Lord.
If you know a brother/sister in sin
*... rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.”*, Gal 6:1, Matt 18:15-20.
Do not be afraid to say *Thou art the man.*
*Remorse corner.*
Eph 5: 10-11 *Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.*
*And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.*
*Call to Word action.*
Are you doing shameful things in secret?
Eph 5: 12 *It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.*
*The Christian clarion duty.*
Eph 5:13 *But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.* (ref 1 Cor 5)
*Prayer.*
Lord, help me and do not let me partake with unfruitful people, but let me reprove them and make manifest their deeds by light, in Jesus name.
Good morning all, and have a blessed day today.
God bless you.