SCRIPTURE: 1 Kings 1
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites and the Pelethites went down and put Solomon on King David’s mule and escorted him to Gihon. Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the sacred tent and anointed Solomon. Then they sounded the trumpet and all the people shouted, “Long live King Solomon!” And all the people went up after him, playing flutes and rejoicing greatly, so that the ground shook with the sound. [1 Kings 1:38-40] The son of David, the new king, is escorted with praises on a donkey into Jerusalem. Sound familiar?

They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest!” [Matthew 21:7-9] God made a promise to raise up a righteous King whose reign would never end, through the lineage of David. Solomon starts off well, but his reign ends in disaster, and the kingdom divides and eventually crashes (the storyline of 1 and 2 Kings).

Where we fail, God succeeds. Jesus is God in the flesh, the kind of King we need. He establishes peace on earth through His death and resurrection. The devil has been dethroned, humanity (through it’s representative, Jesus) has been restored to its rightful place as ruler of creation under God. Now all that remains is for people to choose sides for eternity. Which king will be choose. As the people had to choose between Adonijah (the usurper) and Solomon (the rightful heir), we must choose between Satan (the usurper) and Jesus (the rightful heir).

We can be fickle, fair-weather followers. When it looks good for Adonijah, we choose him; when Solomon is selected, we quickly change sides. When Jesus is entering Jerusalem on the mule, we cry ‘hosanna’; when Jesus leaves Jerusalem on the cross, we cry ‘crucify’. And now, when Jesus seems distant, people disregard and disobey Him. But when He returns, many will approach Him and claim to be on His side. Many will say to me on that day, `Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, `I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ [Matthew 7:22-23] Today again we have a choice. Who will we serve? Will we surrender to, and loyally serve, Christ the King? This decision has eternal ramifications.

PRAYER:
Lord, You are the rightful King. I choose to submit to You!