Articles
A King On A Donkey
A King On A Donkey
9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (Zech. 9:9)
God made a promise that one of David's sons would sit on the throne and rule in righteousness. Of this son it was promised that his kingdom would have no end. Yet, later God had told Jeconiah that there would not be another king until the promised one would come. We watch as the kingdom is destroyed by the Babylonians. We watch as God restores the people to their homeland. We see the temple and city rebuilt. We see that God restores the priesthood and sacrifices. YET we see no king.
Now God through Zechariah speaks of the future king. He would be righteous and having salvation. He would not be arrogant like so many that are put into the position of king but would be humble. He would be mounted on a donkey.
Those who have read the story of Jesus almost immediately recall Jesus entrance into Jerusalem (Matt. 21). He comes not on a white horse leading a victorious army, but riding on the foal of a donkey. He comes armed not with sword and spear but with righteousness and truth.
There is a strange (to us) paradox in such an entrance. A king on a donkey? To the people of Jesus day this event had a different significance. A king on a donkey was not a picture of poverty and lowliness but a sign of a rightful king.
The riding on a donkey goes back to the time of Solomon. When Adonijah attempted to usurp the kingdom and displace Solomon as the rightful heir of David's throne, we see the people intervene and make Solomon the king (1Kings 1). He is place on a donkey and led in triumph into Jerusalem with the people crying "Long live King Solomon" (1Kings 1:38-39). The riding on the donkey became a picture of the coronation of a king. It signified royalty, power, and triumph.
A thousand years later, Jesus the son of David came riding into the same city on the foal of a donkey with the people shouting: "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" (Matt. 21:9). His coming is often called the 'triumphant entry' which is fascinating in the sense that in effect he was 'riding to his death'. While the crowd proclaims Him king, the leaders have rejected him. This was the beginning of the end as within a week He would be crucified.
Such would be a tragic end of the story IF it was the end of the story. Though he died, God raised him up and gave him the throne of David. God made him to be Lord of Lords and king of kings. He was glorified and sat on the right hand of the Father in heaven. He was given all authority in heaven and earth. He was given a name above every name in heaven and earth. This is the rightful king that came riding on the donkey. Is He your king?
Hugh DeLong
