1 Samuel 7 opens with the people of Kiriath-jearim bringing the ark to the house of Abinadab. His son Eleazar is consecrated to tend the ark.

The Philistines have been ruling over Israel for 20 years. Samuel calls on Israel to put away their other gods and turn to the Lord. The people obey. Samuel gathers the people at Mizpah. The Philistines hear that they have amassed and the move against them. The people ask Samuel to pray for them and God confuses the Philistines. The Israelites move against the Philistines and subdue them. Samuel becomes the judge of Israel.

By 1 Samuel 8 Samuel becomes an old man. He makes his sons judges over Israel but they are corrupt. The people want Samuel to appoint a king over Israel like other nations. God had declared that He was the king over Israel so in asking for a king the people are rejecting God. He has Samuel tell the people what it will be like with a human king who will oppress them. The people insist that they still want a king. God grants their demands.

In 1 Samuel 9 God shows Samuel who is to become the king over Israel. He is Saul the handsome son of a wealthy man. Saul is strong and tall the perfect human choice for a king.

Mark 11 opens with the events we associate with Palm Sunday. Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a colt. The people shout Hosanna! “Save us!” They believe Jesus will bring in the returning kingdom of David, the king who united Israel and made them free. Jesus looks around the temple and goes to Bethany for the night.

The next day on his way to Jerusalem Jesus sees a fig tree and goes to get a fig, but it had only produced leaves. Jesus curses the fig tree. He enters the temple and drives out the money changers. He says that the religious leaders have turned what God made a house of prayer into a den of robbers. On their way back to Bethany they pass the fig tree and the disciples notice that it has withered.

This is what is known as a Markan sandwich. Mark frequently interrupts one story with another that are on the same theme. The fig tree represents the faith practiced by the religious leaders. It is all show but has no true substance. It does not bear fruit. Jesus curses the fig tree just as he condemns those in the temple.

Jesus tells his disciples to have faith; “do not doubt in your heart, but believe.” He also tells them that when they are praying they should forgive any who have sinned against them so God can forgive them.

Jesus tells us that faith that is based upon show, doubt and judgment is not a saving faith. Our faith must be deep enough that our lives bear fruit, we are able to pray with faith despite the doubts, take our own forgiveness to heart so that we can forgive others.