A Reflection on Kings

“Ultima Ratio Regum” (The Final Argument of Kings) - Inscribed on the cannons of King Louis the 14th of France

This has to be one of my all time favorite little tidbits of history. That the French King Louis the 14th would inscribe this message on his cannons. There is a refreshing honesty in it. He acknowledged that his kingdom, and that all of the kings like him, relied on the force of their guns, their machines of war, in order to make their arguments.

But in this reflection I want to briefly consider the king who declares his kingship not by the thunder of cannons, but on the back of a young donkey.

Surprisingly we first find this tale in the beginning of the book of first kings. It goes a little something like this…

David was dying. His life had been good and reign long, but even God's anointed king of Israel couldn't defeat the decay of age.

Realizing his Father's death was soon approaching, one of David's sons, Adonijah, decided it was his time to make a play for the throne. Adonijah secretly forged alliances with the priests and the generals so that no one would oppose him in his claim to be king. So confident was Adonijah that he threw a coronation party before he had even officially been declared king, riding into the city atop a fearsome war chariot at the head of a mighty army. By all accounts he appeared the conquering hero.

But Bathsheba, now the wife of David, witnessed what was going on and reported it to the prophet Nathan who in turn informed David in his sickbed. David recalled his promise before God that Solomon, son of Bathsheba, would succeed him, and so David sent for a priest and the leader of his mighty men. And with these important figures before him, David gave these instructions…

“Take with you the servants of your lord and have Solomon my son ride on my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon. And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet there anoint him king over Israel. Then blow the trumpet and say, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ You shall then come up after him, and he shall come and sit on my throne, for he shall be king in my place. And I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah.” - 1 Kings 1:33-35

And so Solomon entered as the true king of Israel. Not atop a noble steed. Not at the head of an imposing army. Not as a conquering hero.

King Solomon entered the city riding a humble mule.

The crowd reacted to the true king with rejoicing; dancing and singing so loudly that Adonijah heard it, even amidst his victory celebration. When he heard what was causing the commotion, that his brother had been crowned the rightful king, Adonijah and all his followers fled in fear.

And so the true king rode into Jerusalem that day astride a humble donkey.

***

Nearly 1000 years later, another king would ride into Jerusalem, once again astride a humble donkey. Once again the crowd would celebrate his arrival. Once again rejoicing over a king.

But this king, this Jesus, was finally the TRUE King.

Jesus’s entrance was about more than just finding the nearest animal to transport him into the city. You see, Solomon had ridden into the city that day, and declared all pretenders to the throne to be just that… pretenders. But King Jesus rode into the city that day, traveling the same route that Solomon did, and declared all powers and authorities; from the might of Rome to the piety of the Pharisees, to be subject to him.

Truly on that day, one greater than Solomon was there.

For Solomon’s kingship was riddled with sin and failings. He fell to the worship of idols. He took foreign brides who turned him from God. And ultimately, Solomon died and left his kingdom to his son Rehoboam, who resorted to force to attempt to keep his kingdom intact. Much as kingdoms still rely on force to retain control. Ultima Ratio Regum, the last argument of kings.

But Jesus’s Kingship is gloriously unlike that of Solomon’s. Jesus leds his people to worship in spirit and truth. Jesus takes the Church as his bride, and is cleansing her of sin. And ultimately, Jesus died for his bride, but he was raised to life and continues to reign as king forever and ever amen!

And so in this reflection on Kings, I come away not worried or stressed that there are so many rulers in this world who liken themselves as kings. That governments might rely on force, the strength of their cannons, to make their arguments.

Instead I look to the True King, ever living and ever reigning. King Jesus, who enters on a humble donkey, who meets our truest needs, who offers us life and relationship and a place in his kingdom. And so, come what may on this earth, my desire is to join the multitudes around the throne, proclaiming…

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,

to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”

And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

- Revelation 5:12-13