The king and the donkey

"The king also said to them, 'Take with you the servants of your lord, and have Solomon my son ride on my own mule, and take him down to Gihon. There let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him king over Israel." 1 Kings 1.33-34

I was reading this passage this week when suddenly,something really caught my attention on it, the words that are highlighted above, and maybe if it was not for that, you would not even notice them.

The new king of Israel being presented on a mule? Would not the great King David have an ornate horse and carriage fit for a king, so that his successor to the throne could mount on?

Why then announce the new monarch in the streets of the city on a simple mule?

Here is the secret for the success of a king, let's talk in our case, the success of a servant of God; humility.

Humility to learn and to teach, to rebuke and be rebuked, to serve and be served, to lose and to win. Humility to know that we are here for the the sake of the people, and not for our own lives.

We who do the work of God, are like the king for the people; we guide, teach, help... the king is supposed to serve the people, if you lack the quality of humility, your reign will not last long, but will be temporary.

That mule represented exactly that, Solomon should be well aware: you will be the king of this nation, but remember everything comes from God, you are just a servant, He is the true King.

Perhaps many came mounted on a simple mule when they were chosen to serve God, but now they only want to ride a horse, forgetting to give honor to whom honor is due.

Meditate and see if you are still riding the mule, or if you now require a beautiful and ornate carriage!