READING FOR MAY 30, 2025: 2 SAMUEL 15, MARK 12, PSALM 48:9-14 2 SAMUEL 15 The previous chapter tells us David’s son Absalom cut a dashing figure: “In all Isra- el there was no one as handsome as Absalom, so highly praised; from the sole of his foot to the top of his head there was no impairment in him” (14:25). Now we see Absalom magnifying his natural appearance with the grandeur of a chariot and 50 men running ahead of him. He also intentionally began a clever PR campaign to gain popular support by positioning himself near the gates of Jerusalem to offer himself as adjudicator for all people seeking resolution of their issues from the King. His behavior was so people friendly over a period offour years that he won over the hearts of all the people. (Some manuscripts state 40 years, but that seems unlikely given the context).
Absalom then asked permission to go to Hebron to pay a vow he made while he was living in a kind of exile in Geshur while hoping David would allow him to return to Jerusalem. David granted this request. Hebron is significant as the place David began his reign as king. This appears to be only a false pretense, though. The real reason he went to Hebron was to proclaim himself king and send this word throughout Israel. Absalom took 200 men with him, but they were not aware of Absalom’s coup attempt. Absalom scored another success by persuading Ahithophel, one of David’s wise advisors, to join the conspirators. Perhaps, being the grandfather of Bathsheba played a role in Ahithophel’s defection from David.
When David got word the tide was turning against him, he evacuated from Jerusalem. He left his 10 concubines in Jerusalem to take care of his household. He also left behind the priest Zadok and few individual allies. These men would serve the purpose of keeping David informed about what was happening in Jerusalem once Absalom and his men occupied the city. Things look really bad. Should David just give up? We need to keep in mind David’s (and our) chief ally: “Lord, how my enemies have increased! Many are rising up against me. Many are saying of my soul, ‘There is no salvation for him in God.’ Selah. But You, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, and the One who lifts my head. I was crying out to the Lord with my voice, And He answered me from His holy mountain. Selah. I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustains me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people Who have set themselves against me all around” (Psalm 3:1-6). A Psalm of David when he fled from his son Absalom.
MARK 12 In the parable of the landowner, previously studied in Matt. 21:33-45, notice the graciousness and patience of the landowner. He graciously planted the vineyard and included everything needed to make it successful, just as God created a beautiful world and appointed us as His stewards. He patiently sent the vine-growers many representatives, just as God sent Israel numerous prophets over the centuries. Even though the prophets were on a mission for God, they were mistreated and sometimes killed by Israel.
READING FOR MAY 30, 2025 CONTINUED: MARK 12, PSALM 48:9-14
Finally, God sent His only Son to save the world, but Israel mostly rejected Him and sent Him to the cross. Today, we have access to these prophets through His Word and to His Son through faith. Do we reject Jesus, ignore Jesus, or receive Jesus as chief cornerstone of our lives—not just a peripheral activity one hour a week? God’s patience is not unlimited: “He [the owner] will destroy the vine-growers" (Mark 12:9).
An issue for the Pharisees and Herodians, as for us today, is the proper relationship between government and God. Jesus in essence states that we need to support the government but not look to the government as our ultimate source of meaning. Look to God. In response to the Sadducees, disbelievers of life after death, Jesus gave this very harsh criticism that we must also ponder: They did not understand the Bible nor the power of God. What about us? Jesus, however, encountered a wise scribe who truly understood that love of God and neighbor is more important than the prescribed sacrifices of the Mosaic Law. Jesus then identified Himself as the One whom David proclaimed as Lord and He lifts up those who humbly offer God what little they possess as opposed to those of us who parade our self-importance.
PSALM 48:9-14 What did the Psalmist think about when He was in the Temple? What do we think about in church? Let’s follow the Psalmist and contemplate God’s goodness, His praiseworthiness throughout the world, His righteousness (i.e., acting according to His right standard), and His judgments. In fact, we have far more reason to do this than the Psalmist who had not yet known the details of Jesus’s unimaginable work on our behalf at the cross.
The Psalmist then tells the reader to take a tour of Jerusalem, the City of God, which reflects something of God’s character: “for such is God” (vs. 14). A tour of present-day Jerusalem would surely be historically fascinating but may no longer project the majesty it did when the Psalmist was writing. What certainly will reflect all the attributes of God is the New Jerusalem: “He... showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very valuable stone, like a stone of crystal-clear jasper. It had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names were written on the gates, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel” (Rev. 21:10-12). LET’S START CONSIDERING THIS CITY OF GOD MORE AND MORE.
