ARE YOU HONOURING THE KING?

DAY 235

Reference text: Judges 9:6-15

We read about an interesting ceremony to select a king for the trees. Their first choice was the olive, but it declined because it’s oil was useful in honouring God’s and men. The fig as a second choice declined, because of its fruits and sweetness. The vine finally also declines because of the delight it’s wine brings to God and men thus causing the trees to turn to the bramble.

As shrubs, brambles normally have thorns and small berries to show off hence it agrees to the coronation on one condition:

'if in good faith you anoint me king over all the trees, then come and take refuge in my shade'.(Judges 9:15

In other words, you are all very proud of your oil, fruits and wine. But if you want to acknowledge me as king, those things in which you pride yourself, have to step into my  covering. I have to become the visible arch over you.

John had his own ministry, and so was not unafraid to say of Jesus ‘He must increase, but I must decrease’. I don’t reckon the olive, fig and vine had this in mind. Particularly, in regards to authorities here on earth, one cannot have ‘a king’ and yet see themselves as over and above them.
You may discern as ‘having more than that king’, but in recognised authority, there is a sceptre that backs their office.

Saint Peter advised us as follows: “Honour all people, love the brethren, fear God, honour the king.”(1 Pt 2:17)

The real question for us then is: ‘does ‘your oil, your fruits and your wine, [a figurative expression for your strengths, gifts, talents] make you too proud to step into the shade of the bramble when it’s anointed king?

Pray for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty (1Tim 2:2)

#sly