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Mark 11
So it occurred to me at some point that, in the Bible, the fig tree is often a symbol for Israel. In that light, Jesus’ encounter with the unfruitful fig tree here could be seen as a foretelling of the Jews’ overall rejection of the gospel message. Like the fig tree, they will not be fruitful because it is not their time. Interesting, then, that after Jesus cleared out the Temple He quoted, “My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations” (Mark 11:17, from Is. 56:7). That, too, suggested the extension of the gospel to the Gentiles because of the Jews’ rejection.
I am still not making the connection between the fig tree and Jesus’ comments about faith and forgiveness, however. “This mountain” seems like it could be another symbolic reference to Jerusalem, but I’m still not quite getting the message. However, “have faith…believe that you have received…and…forgive…so that your Father in heaven may forgive you” (from Mark: 22-25) sounds a lot like an abbreviated gospel message to me. So perhaps Jesus was encouraging His disciples to hold fast because they and some other Jews would still be saved in spite of the curse.
2 Sam. 5-6
Trace David’s emotions in this chapter. To what was each emotion a reaction? I wonder what David was angry at when God struck down Uzzah? He had no right to be angry at God, since they had not obeyed God’s instructions for moving the ark properly. In fact, the very next sentence says that David was afraid of God. And rightly so. Maybe David took personal responsibility for Uzzah’s death and was angry at his own failure. I wonder, did they mishandle the transportation of the ark out of ignorance or indifference? Out of thirty thousand young men and two priests, not one was aware that they were to carry the ark of God on poles?
Maybe David was angry because He realized that he had taken God’s holiness – and his own unholiness – for granted. His reminder cost a man his life. But he sure got the message. He was then keenly aware of his unworthiness for God to be present with him. But God also reminded David of His mercy. “The ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months, and the LORD blessed him and his entire household.” (2 Sam. 6:11). David likewise got that message, and he became emboldened to seek God’s presence again. He did things right the second time, respecting God’s holiness, and his fear turned to rejoicing. Even as God’s children, we must never forget He is holy.