Who Disciplines You?

1 Kings 1:5 through 1 Kings 1:6 (RSV) 5Now 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. 6His 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.

Adonijah was David’s son by his wife, Haggith. He was a spoiled brat. He was a little boy in the body of a grown man. He thought that he was a shoe-in to be the next king of Israel, so he acted the part long before David died.

Adonijah was physically attractive. It is true that handsome men and beautiful women have a leg-up over us plainer types. It is also true that having a powerful father can be a great advantage in achieving success. Two other factors are essential to being a leader, character and talent. It appears that Adonijah had little of either. Why? It was because he was never disciplined.

The Hebrew word translated in RSV as “displeased him” is pronounced   aw-tsab with a primitive root; properly to carve, that is, fabricate or fashion; hence (in a bad sense) to worry, pain or anger:—displease, grieve, hurt, make or be sorry, vex. David indulged his sons rather than disciplining (displeasing) them. One son, Amnon , raped his half sister and was executed by his older brother, Absalom, who campaigns successfully to take his father’s throne by force.  This is mainly because David never “displeased” his sons.

Discipline is never pleasant, but it is always necessary to character development. Who in your life disciplines you? Whom do you discipline? After reflection, you may discover that social interaction is an exchange of disciplining events. Consider it good to be disciplined. Without it, we become like Adonijah, one who lives in the unreal world where foolish actions have no consequences.

No horse gets anywhere until he is harnessed. No steam or gas ever drives anything until it is confined. No Niagara is ever turned into light and power until it is tunneled. No life ever grows great until it is focused, dedicated, disciplined.

Harry Emerson Fosdick (1878–1969)

Have a blessed day!