A hunger for power (1 Kings 1-2)

A situation arose as David was on his deathbed: his son Adonijah attempted to take the throne.  The problem is that the Lord was going to establish Solomon as the next king over Israel.  After his attempts were thwarted, Adonijah attempted to go through the back door by requesting the hand of David's concubine in marriage following David's death.  Solomon, however, saw through the scheme.  If Adonijah was to marry David's concubine, then he would be establishing himself as the king of Israel.  Adonijah didn't care about the Lord's direction for Israel; he cared about the power he was missing out on.  Thankfully he wasn't able to continue on in his pursuit because Solomon had him killed.  There is a clear lesson for us today: leaders who grasp for power should be removed from it.  If God establishes leaders, as the Bible clearly teaches he does, then there's no need to fight for power.  The very fact that someone would fight for power shows that he or she is not open to God's will for His people.