This sermon was delivered at the Coronation Songs of Praise service at Langham Church on Sunday 7th May 2023, 6pm.

Bible Reading: 1 Kings 3:5-10

What does it take to be a King? What are the sorts of things that come to your mind when I ask that? Do you think of a crown, or a palace; or do you think of riches and grand wealth? These are notable signifiers of a King, but the crown and the jewels and the palaces are not the things that make the King a King. For all the outward grandeur and vesture, a King is defined inwardly by his heart, his character. 

King Charles’ opening line in the coronation service yesterday summed up the true heart of a King. After young chorister Samuel Strachan greeted King Charles in the name of Jesus, the King replied, ‘In his name, and after his example, I come not to be served but to serve.’ A King is not defined by outward glory and power but by his inward desire to follow the example of the King of Kings, Jesus Christ, who came not to be served but to serve. To serve is at the heart of what it means to be King. A King follows the example of Jesus who is the Servant King, who shows us that being a King is to be a servant of God and a servant of people. 

Parts of the coronation service we saw yesterday were inspired by the coronation of King Solomon in the Bible. When Solomon was made King by Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet, he looked at the life of his father King David and what it meant for him to serve God and the people as King. David’s kingship was defined by faithfulness, righteousness and uprightness of heart towards God. Above all things he tried to do what was right before God, and this is what defined him as a King, and a good one at that. King Solomon says to God:

‘O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?’ 

King Solomon knows that he is called to be a servant of God and that the weight of serving the people is too much for him to do on his own. And so, Solomon asks God to be with him and for God to give him wisdom and guidance to know good from evil in order that he may serve faithfully as King. It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this, for in asking this Solomon was saying that it is through and by God alone he or anyone can serve as King. It recognises our need for God, and how it is only with God that we can do anything, especially to serve as King. 

What does it take to be a King? To be a King is to serve, to serve God and to serve the people, and this is only possible through the help of God. It is to take up the call of those who follow Christ to serve and not be served. Archbishop Welby said in his sermon yesterday, ‘service is love in action.’ In service we are living out our Christian lives of love, love for God and love for our neighbour. We follow the example of our Servant King who showed us that service of all looks like giving all of yourself in love for the sake of others like Jesus did on the cross. So, may this day we and our King serve our God and people. Because in our service we share Christ’s love and in our call as his disciples to serve and not be served. With the help of God, we will.

Amen.