In 2 Samuel 13 the prophecy of Nathan regarding David and his household starts to come to pass. First, David’s son Amnon raped his half sister Tamar. Tamar’s brother, Absalom, retaliated by killing Amnon. The report that came to David said Absalom had killed all of his brothers, but it was only Amnon. Absalom ran away, but eventually came back to Jerusalem, and David was “comforted” by this return. While every family has its dysfunctions, King David’s family shows us how far a family’s dysfunction can go when its leader sets a poor example.
In 2 Samuel 14, Joab conspires to have King David bring Absalom back to Jerusalem by having a woman of Tekoa, tell a story about her son who had killed another, and seeking David’s help in the situation. When David told her he would help her, she asked why the kind put his own son in the same situation. David asked the woman if Joab had put her up to it, and she confessed he had. David permitted Absalom to come back to Jerusalem, but he was not permitted to live with David, and David did not see him for two years. Absalom then convinced Joab to get David to permit him to see his father. It seemed that all was well, but in 2 Samuel 15, Absalom turned the hearts of the people against his father, by showing them favor, and judging their disputes. It took four years, but eventually Absalom staged an attempted overthrow, and had himself pronounced king at Hebron. David didn’t attack Absalom, or go to Hebron to defend himself. He simply packed up and left. He made a few strategic moves, such as having the Ark of the Covenant stay in the city, so it would be protected, and because it would be there if the LORD saw fit to have David retain his throne. In addition, he had some trusted advisors pretend to have rebelled against him, so they could thwart Absalom’s planning. The situation was dire, but as we will see, God was not yet finished with David.
As we return to Mark 11, we look once again at Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The sequence of events included the people acknowledging Jesus as a descendant of David, and honoring Him in a way they had not done before. Jesus cursed a fig tree that wasn’t bearing figs, and overturned the moneychangers tables in the Temple, demonstrating His authority to protect His Father’s house. Jesus explained the lesson of the withered fig tree, and how faith in God can move mountains. At the end of the chapter the religious authorities challenged Jesus’ authority, but as always Jesus was ahead of them. He asked where John the Baptists authority originated. The leaders wouldn’t say, because they knew the people thought John was a prophet, so they didn’t want to offend the people by saying John’s authority was merely human, but if they said it was from God, Jesus would ask them why they hadn’t obeyed him. So, they said they didn’t know. Jesus responded He wouldn’t tell them from where His authority arose. We can never outwit Jesus, because He is both wiser than us, and He is always at least one step ahead of us. Our goal as Jesus’ followers is to give Him the credit he is due all the time, not just once as the folks did on the first Palm Sunday so long ago. Also, we must submit to Jesus’ authority daily, so our lives will be lived to His glory and praise.