The King on a Mule

By Curtis Copeland

“King David said, ‘Call in Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.’ When they came before the king, he said to them: ‘Take your lord's servants with you and have Solomon my son mount my own mule and take him down to Gihon. There have Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him king over Israel. Blow the trumpet and shout, “Long live King Solomon!” Then you are to go up with him, and he is to come and sit on my throne and reign in my place. I have appointed him ruler over Israel and Judah.’ Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king, ‘Amen! May the Lord, the God of my lord the king, so declare it. As the Lord was with my lord the king, so may he be with Solomon to make his throne even greater than the throne of my lord King David!’ So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites and the Pelethites went down and had Solomon mount King David's mule, and they 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 pipes and rejoicing greatly, so that the ground shook with the sound.”—1 Kings 1:32–40 (NIV)

What do you expect royalty to ride? A gleaming chariot? A tall warhorse? Yet God’s chosen king arrived on a mule. A beast of burden. Ordinary. Humble. Known for stubbornness and strength. Almost disappointing, unless you look closer.

Think about weddings. Some couples roll up in a stretched, luxurious limo. Others rent a “vintage car” (translation: their 2002 Honda Civic with questionable brakes and only one functional windshield wiper). A friend of mine once drove away from his reception in a dented minivan with “Just Married” scrawled in white shoe polish. It wasn’t glamorous, but everyone laughed, clapped, and followed behind honking.

The vehicle wasn’t the point. The joy was.

That’s Solomon’s moment here. Not crowned in a palace, but riding David’s mule to Gihon where the people sang and the ground shook with joy. God was showing us something: His kingship doesn’t depend on outward flash. It comes through humility and obedience. Simple. Ordinary.

The Truth: Three Gospel Threads

1. The True King Is Chosen by God, Not by Men
David’s throne didn’t fall to Adonijah’s scheming. Solomon was appointed by God’s decree, anointed by priest and prophet. This points us to Jesus, the greater Son of David, whose kingship wasn’t seized, but declared by the Father: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him” (Mark 9:7 NIV). Our hope rests not in human power, but in God’s chosen King who reigns forever.

2. The King Rides in Humility Before He Rules in Glory
Solomon’s mule foreshadows Jesus’ donkey. The Messiah entered Jerusalem not with armor but with gentleness (Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 21:5). His crown was thorns before it was glory. The pathway to kingship is humility, and His call to us is the same: “Take my yoke upon you... for I am gentle and humble in heart” (Matthew 11:29 NIV).

3. The King’s Reign Brings Joy That Shakes the Earth
When Solomon was anointed, the celebration rattled the ground. When Jesus rose from the grave, He rattled the tomb. When He returns, the heavens and earth will quake with praise (Hebrews 12:26–28). Every reign of God’s King brings music, freedom, and joy.

The Problem:

We chase appearances. We think life will look better if we upgrade our car, polish the résumé, or curate the perfect profile. The exercise of keeping up leaves us tired and thin. Have you noticed the more you try to impress, the less you actually rest?

The mule of comparison always bucks you off joy.

Pause: Consider this: How do you trade the chase for Christlike humility?

Practice: Pick one ordinary act of humility, such as giving an apology or washing dishes you didn’t dirty. Encourage someone without seeking credit. Let that be your ordinary, mundane mule ride. Simple. Ordinary. Holy.

Pray: Lord Jesus, thank You for showing me true kingship through humility. Teach me to stop chasing appearances and start walking in obedience. Give me joy in the ordinary and freedom from the pressure to impress. May my life point others to You, the King who rode low so everyone could be lifted high. Amen.