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Day By Day Expressions
Day By Day Expressions
We can find beauty in the nature of growth and plants in the natural world.
#daybydaylw
Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Mar 03, 2025
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:06:40 min.
00:06:40 min.
Day by Day - 2 Samuel
Clinging To The King
When others rebel against Jesus, it gives us the opportunity to show our faithfulness.
#daybydaylw
Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!
~~~
“But, the men of Judah followed their king steadfastly from the Jordan to Jerusalem."
David had just endured the rebellion of Absalom, and now, another enemy arose—Sheba. The question loomed: Would David’s kingdom crumble? Would another war break out? In moments like these, when the battle seems never-ending, we hold our breath, wondering what will happen next.
This is the way of the enemy. He doesn’t wait until we’re strong; he strikes when we’re weary. Just as one battle ends, another begins. Perhaps you feel this in your own life—one hardship after another, no time to catch your breath. Maybe this is even what we see in the church today—attack after attack, trial after trial.
But look at the response of the men of Judah. Instead of scattering, they clung to David. They followed him more closely than before, standing firm by his side. One pastor insightfully put it this way: When others rebel against King Jesus, it gives us an even greater opportunity to show our loyalty to Him.
The men of Judah didn’t shrink back. They didn’t let the rebellion of others shake their faithfulness. They drew near to their king, strengthening their allegiance. And we must do the same. When opposition rises, when rebellion increases, let it drive us closer to Christ. Let our loyalty be made clear—not just in word, but in action.
Prayer Focus:
Ask God for strength to remain steadfast in times of hardship.
Pray for faithfulness to Christ when others turn away.
Lift up Joe & Mira Costa, missionaries in Lebanon.
Pray for the French-Canadian Lifeword broadcast in Canada.
Trials will come. Rebellion will rise. But let it be said of us: We followed our King steadfastly.
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Feb 28, 2025
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:02:39 min.
00:02:39 min.
Day by Day - 2 Samuel
The Heart Of A Rebel
We must determine whether we are truly following God, or only obeying when it is convenient.
#daybydaylw
Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!
~~~
"We have no portion in David, and we have no inheritance in the son of Jesse!"
Sheba enters the scene in 2 Samuel 20 with a clear purpose—to stir rebellion. The Bible calls him a "worthless man," a term also used for Hophni and Phinehas in 1 Samuel 2. These were men who disregarded God’s authority, choosing their own power and desires over submission to the King.
Sheba saw the tension between the northern and southern tribes and seized the moment. Instead of calling David "king" like the rest of Israel, he refused to acknowledge David’s rule. That’s the mark of a rebel—rejecting rightful authority and drawing others away to serve their own ambitions.
Rebellion isn’t just an ancient story. It exists today. Some resist God’s Word, twisting it to fit their own agenda. Some play along with God’s authority until it no longer benefits them. When the heat turns up, they turn away, seeking to build their own little kingdoms rather than submitting to the King of Kings.
Sheba’s story is a warning. We must examine our hearts: Are we truly submitting to God’s rule, or are we resisting His authority when it doesn’t serve our own desires? Do we follow Christ wholeheartedly, or only when it’s convenient?
**Prayer Focus:**
- Ask God to reveal any rebellion in your heart.
- Pray for humility and submission to His authority.
- Lift up Sam & Suzan Jordan, missionaries in Jordan.
- Pray for the English Lifeword broadcast in Canada & the U.S.
Let’s not be like Sheba—choosing pride over obedience. Instead, let’s honor the King.
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Feb 27, 2025
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:02:20 min.
00:02:20 min.
Day by Day - 2 Samuel
The Value Of The Old Testament
Stories like those in 2 Samuel remind us of God’s faithfulness, justice, and mercy.
#daybydaylw
Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!
~~~
"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness."
Some may wonder why we spend time studying the Old Testament. Isn’t it outdated? Shouldn’t we just focus on Jesus and the New Testament? The Bible itself answers this question. Paul reminds us that all Scripture is God-breathed and beneficial for our growth.
Romans 15:4 further tells us that whatever was written in former times was for our instruction, so that through endurance and encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. The Old Testament provides wisdom, reveals the character of God, and prepares us for His kingdom. It convicts us, encourages us, and strengthens our faith.
When we study books like 2 Samuel, we aren’t just reading ancient history—we are learning about God’s faithfulness, His justice, and His mercy. These stories shape us, equip us, and point us to Christ.
Prayer Focus:
Thank God for the richness of all Scripture.
Ask Him to give you a hunger for His Word, both Old and New Testaments.
Lift up Charles & Mona Costa, serving in the Middle East.
Pray for the Cherokee Lifeword broadcast in the United States.
God’s Word is timeless. Let’s cherish and study every part of it!
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Feb 26, 2025
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:01:53 min.
00:01:53 min.
Day by Day - 2 Samuel
Yielding To The King
Bitterness, jealousy, and selfish ambition will put us at odds with God.
#daybydaylw
Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!
~~~
"What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?"
The men of Israel were jealous of the men of Judah, frustrated that they were not the first to bring King David back. Their selfish desires created division rather than unity. Conflict arises when personal ambitions outweigh devotion to the King.
John Henderson, in Catching Foxes, describes this as spiritual adultery—loving the things of the world more than loving Christ. When we allow bitterness, jealousy, and selfish ambition to fester, we are choosing to be at odds with God rather than living in harmony with Him.
So what is the solution? More Mephibosheth, more Barzillai. More humility, more contentment, more joy in simply being with the King. Unity in the church, in our homes, and in our friendships comes when our hearts are fully yielded to Christ—when honoring Him becomes our priority over our own desires.
Are you yielding? Are you honoring? Or are you chasing selfish passions that divert your attention from the King?
Prayer Focus:
Ask God to reveal areas of selfishness in your heart.
Pray for unity in your home, friendships, and church.
Lift up Cristian & Vanessa Martinez, serving in Romania.
Pray for the Aymara Lifeword broadcast in Peru & Bolivia.
May our love for Jesus outweigh every other desire, bringing peace where conflict once ruled.
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Feb 25, 2025
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:02:13 min.
00:02:13 min.
Day By Day Expressions
Day By Day Expressions
The pastor of a church has a responsibility to guide the shape of the worship service.
#daybydaylw
Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Feb 24, 2025
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:05:39 min.
00:05:39 min.
Day by Day - 2 Samuel
Barzillai’s True Contentment
True contentment is not found in possessions but in a faithful heart at peace.
#daybydaylw
Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!
~~~
"I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content."
Barzillai was a faithful supporter of David, using his wealth to bless the king and his men during difficult times. Now, as David returns to reclaim his throne, he offers Barzillai a great reward—an honored place in Jerusalem, where he will be cared for the rest of his days. But Barzillai declines.
At eighty years old, he recognizes that his greatest joy is not in luxury or prestige but in living out his remaining days in the home he loves. Instead of seeking his own gain, he asks that the blessing be given to a younger man, Chimham. Barzillai models true contentment, understanding that earthly rewards pale in comparison to the peace of knowing one’s place and purpose in life.
In a culture obsessed with chasing more—more success, more recognition, more comfort—Barzillai’s wisdom speaks volumes. True contentment is found not in possessions or positions but in faithfulness, humility, and a heart at peace. Do we trust God enough to be content where He has placed us?
Prayer Focus:
Ask God to cultivate a heart of contentment in your life.
Thank Him for the blessings you have, rather than longing for more.
Lift up Sara Filimon, serving in Romania.
Pray for the Ashaninka Lifeword broadcast heard throughout Peru.
Like Barzillai, may we find joy in faithfulness rather than fleeting rewards.
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Feb 21, 2025
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:02:14 min.
00:02:14 min.
Day by Day - 2 Samuel
Mephibosheth’s Surrender
We should approach God wishing to be in His presence, rather than with an agenda.
#daybydaylw
Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!
~~~
"Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere."
David had a decision to make. Mephibosheth had been falsely accused, yet David had already given his land to Ziba. In an effort to act shrewdly, David ordered them to split the land. But Mephibosheth’s response reveals the heart of a truly surrendered man: “Let him take it all, since my lord the king has come safely home.”
Mephibosheth’s love for David surpassed his concern for possessions. He wasn’t interested in land, status, or wealth—he simply longed to be near the king. His response echoes the heart of the psalmist: “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.”
Contrast this with Shimei, whose repentance was shallow and self-serving. Mephibosheth’s was genuine—rooted not in self-preservation but in gratitude. He knew he had no right to claim anything, only to rejoice that the king had returned.
How often do we approach God with personal agendas, seeking what He can do for us rather than delighting in His presence? True repentance and worship say, “Lord, it is enough that I can be with You.”
Prayer Focus:
Ask God to give you a heart like Mephibosheth’s—one that delights in His presence above all else.
Repent of any self-seeking motives in your walk with Christ.
Lift up Candra Barnett, serving in Romania.
Pray for the Apache Lifeword broadcast heard throughout the USA.
Don’t wait—surrender to the King today!
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Feb 20, 2025
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:02:19 min.
00:02:19 min.
Day by Day - 2 Samuel
Mephibosheth And The Grace Of The King
When we come to Christ, we bring nothing but our brokenness, yet He welcomes us to the table.
#daybydaylw
Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!
~~~
"Mephibosheth said to the king, ‘Let him take everything, now that my lord the king has returned home safely.’"
Mephibosheth had been accused of betrayal, yet his unkempt appearance told a different story—one of grief, loyalty, and heartbreak. He had not cared for himself since the day David left Jerusalem. His sorrow was not the response of a man expecting a throne but of one whose heart was tied to the king.
When David returned and questioned him, Mephibosheth explained how his physical limitations had kept him from following. Instead of demanding justice, he placed himself completely in David’s hands, acknowledging the extravagant grace he had already received. “Do whatever seems good to you,” he said. Mephibosheth knew he had no claim—only gratitude for the mercy shown to him.
This is a picture of the believer’s posture before Christ. We bring nothing but our brokenness, and yet, He brings us to His table. When accusations come, when trials arise, we don’t demand rights—we rest in the grace of our King.
Prayer Focus:
Thank God for His extravagant mercy and grace.
Ask for a heart of humility and gratitude.
Lift up Bryan & Pam Risner and their ministry in Romania.
Pray for the Zanaki Lifeword broadcast in Tanzania.
Like Mephibosheth, may we trust in the goodness of our King, resting in His grace.
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Feb 19, 2025
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:02:02 min.
00:02:02 min.
Day by Day - 2 Samuel
False Repentance
We should be careful to show true repentance rather than putting on a false show.
#daybydaylw
Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!
~~~
"Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap."
Shimei was a master schmoozer—aligning himself with David out of self-interest rather than genuine loyalty. David, seeing the political landscape, chose not to punish him immediately. But David knew the truth—Shimei’s loyalty was only as deep as his personal gain. Years later, Solomon would deal with him as his true heart was revealed.
Shimei’s still sit among us today. There are those who show up in church for appearances, to appease a spouse, or to maintain business relationships. But their hearts are not with the King. And when following Christ no longer benefits them, they will take their loyalty elsewhere.
But here’s the warning: there is a day of reckoning. False repentance will not stand before the King of Kings. The outward show means nothing to a God who sees the heart. Don’t play games with your faith. True repentance is not about convenience—it’s about surrender.
Prayer Focus:
Ask God to reveal any false motives in your heart.
Pray for true repentance and genuine faith.
Lift up Sean & Kendall Pasley, missionaries in France.
Pray for the Yoruba Lifeword broadcast in Nigeria.
God is not fooled. Will you bow before the King in true repentance today?
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Feb 18, 2025
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:02:16 min.
00:02:16 min.
Day By Day Expressions
Day By Day Expressions
There are ways to express ourselves in worship while still maintaining truth.
#daybydaylw
Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Feb 17, 2025
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:04:02 min.
00:04:02 min.
Day by Day - 2 Samuel
Repentance Doesn’t Shine And Glitter
True repentance does not boast in how repentant it is, but is marked by tears.
#daybydaylw
To learn what it means to follow Jesus in your life, go to follow.lifeword.org.
~~~
Now our text for study takes on an interesting shape. This section that we are studying parallels or mirrors a previous section of scripture back in 2 Samuel 15, when the men of Israel decide to side with Absalom and David is told that the “hearts of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom.” After that statement we see that as David is leaving Jerusalem, he encountered Ittai, Ziba, and Shimei. Ittai professed absolute loyalty to David; Ziba brought nourishment to David but brought some bad news concerning Mephibosheth, and Shimei tried to stone David.
In our text for today, it tells us that David was able to sway the heart of Judah as one man, and on his way back into Jerusalem he has encounters with Shimei, Mephibosheth, and Barzillai.
So in 15 we see a snapshot of the what is going on in the kingdom, and then three encounters with different people that reveal motivations and allegiances. In chapter 19, we have a snapshot at the beginning and end of the passage of what is going on in the kingdom, and then three encounters with different people, that reveal motivations and allegiances.
Shimei the Stoner turned Schmoozer
Read text: 19:16-23
When Shimei gets word that David is being brought back as the king, he realizes that his life could be on the line for what he had attempted to do earlier. You remember that? He cursed David, called him worthless, and accused David of acts he did not commit. And now Shimei is thinking, “How can I save my own skin? King David may have me executed!”
So Shimei makes a show. He runs out of house, gathers up as many men as he can (1,000 of them), and takes off towards the Jordan. Shimei splashes into the water and finally gets through all of David’s family and men, and falls down in front of the King, soaking wet, and makes his case. “Please forgive me. Please pardon me. I know I was wrong to do all that I did. Please don’t take it to heart! Please don’t hold a grudge against me!”
Abishai certainly thinks that Shimei is deserving of death, and perhaps he is. But David acts shrewdly at this point. He doesn’t want this day to be marked by spite or revenge. He doesn’t want another battle, because remember, Shimei had brought 1,000 men with him that day. So David gives Shimei an oath of peace—“You shall not die.”
Was Shimei sincere at this point? Does Shimei really honor David as the King? Is Shimei truly repentant over what he did to David and said to David, or has Shimei just been caught in the shifting tides. Previously Shimei took advantage of an opportune time to kick at David at one of his lowest moments. But now David is re-established as King.
What puts me over the edge about Shimei is this one statement—“Behold, I have come this day, the first of all the house of Joseph to come down and meet my lord the king.”
Shimei is saying, “Look at how much better my repentance is than any other!” This is not repentance at all. This is political expediency. He knows the winds have blown to fill David’s sails now, and he doesn’t want to be blown away himself. He wants to catch a ride.
True repentance is never marked by you commenting on how good your repentance is, how much better it is than other people’s repentance. Devotion to the king is not marked by that. Loyalty to the God of grace does not pray, “Thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterous, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all I get!”
Repentance doesn’t boast! Repentance doesn’t shine and glitter. Repentance is dust and ashes! It is grief and weeping and hatred of your sin.
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Feb 14, 2025
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:04:59 min.
00:04:59 min.
Day by Day - 2 Samuel
The Steady Stream Of Peace
Peace in our lives cannot be steady if we are not walking consistently with Jesus.
#daybydaylw
To learn what it means to follow Jesus in your life, go to follow.lifeword.org.
~~~
Well, Absalom, David’s son, has been killed. The rebellion has been squashed. And the question is, what will the kingdom look like now? Will it go back to rest and stability and unity now that David is the recognized king?
Unity is only possible through repentance and submission to the King. And peace only comes when the collective desire is to honor and yield to the King.
At what level is your desire to honor the king and yield to him?
It is awfully difficult to walk with Jesus day by day if you consistently want to walk ahead of him, or drift away from him. Perhaps that is why peace in your life comes and goes rather than being like a steady stream.
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Feb 13, 2025
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:01:28 min.
00:01:28 min.
Day by Day - 2 Samuel
Deal Gently With My Cancer…?
God was able to make love and justice meet perfectly in the death of Jesus.
#daybydaylw
To learn what it means to follow Jesus in your life, go to follow.lifeword.org.
~~~
It appears to me that what we see taking place in 2 Samuel 18 is what Jesus has in mind in Matthew 10. The love and attachment that David had for Absalom, for whatever reason he had it, was greater, at least temporarily, than his love for God and God’s kingdom. The earthly safety and welfare of Absalom was David’s idol.
“God gives no secure salvation to his church unless he brings decisive judgment on her enemies. We must stop praying, “Deliver us from evil,” unless we (truly) yearn for (evil’s) destruction (I John 3:8). Others, we are like a patient ready to undergo cancer surgery who pleads with his doctor, ‘deal gently with my cancer.’ Who urges the surgeon to get most of it but definitely to leave a tad, since ‘it is part of me and I would hate to lose all of it,”? (Dale Ralph Davis, 2 Samuel Commentary)
There cannot be fellowship between light and darkness, righteousness and lawlessness.
Jesus said that he came to bring a sword, and a sword divides. Truth divides. Holding to biblical principles divides. It can be a lonely business to be a follower of Christ sometimes. But it is worth it because having Jesus is worth it, and Jesus is the one who makes sense of it all.
In this text, David cries tears for his own grief and sorrows, and cannot rid himself of them. He cannot bring love and justice to meet perfectly. He cannot bring himself to accept the justice his son deserved, and his love is not strong enough to save Absalom. But there came a king who shed tears for our griefs and sorrows, not his own, and then removed them from us as far as east is from the west, because God was able to make love and justice meet perfectly in the death and resurrection of this king. The putting forth of Jesus as our willing atonement demonstrates the justice of God, and the raising forth of Jesus from the dead tells us that His love for his people was strong enough to save us. Only a completely holy God could do such.
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Feb 12, 2025
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:02:41 min.
00:02:41 min.
Day by Day - 2 Samuel
Can You Love Someone Too Much?
We must not compromise God’s truth or kingdom for those close to us.
#daybydaylw
To learn what it means to follow Jesus in your life, go to follow.lifeword.org.
~~~
The removal of what we love too much can grieve us so much that we become blind to the priorities of the kingdom.
David’s desire and wishes and love for his son Absalom had grown to a point to where they were greater than his love and desire for God and His kingdom.
Perhaps David was grieving over his passiveness as a father, because we have definitely seen that. In fact, that has been a recurring theme throughout the Samuels—fathers unwilling to handle the business within their family. When will we learn dads, that your words, your actions, and your silence and your passiveness have hard-hitting effects on your family? When will we learn that God has designed the family in such a way that kids look to their dads for direction and guidance and will test the boundaries, so much so that if they find no boundaries, they will continue to move farther and farther until their disobedience is met with some unwanted outcome?
But ultimately, David’s love and desire for the safety of his son was greater than his love and desire for the safety of the kingdom.
Remember that Jesus said in Matthew 10:36 “I did not come to bring peace but a sword…A man’s enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of my. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me, is not worthy of me.” In other words, truth divides. No doubt we must gracious and merciful with those close to us who are not believers, but we must not compromise God’s truth or kingdom.
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Feb 11, 2025
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:02:28 min.
00:02:28 min.
Day By Day Expressions
Day By Day Expressions
There are elements to worship services that should be drawn from the Bible.
#daybydaylw
To learn what it means to follow Jesus in your life, go to follow.lifeword.org.
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Feb 10, 2025
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:07:57 min.
00:07:57 min.
Day by Day - 2 Samuel
A Foot Race And A Father’s Sorrow
While grief is healthy, there is such a way that we can grieve sinfully.
#daybydaylw
Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!
~~~
Now this next section (verses 19-32) is dominated by the idea of good news. One pastor has said that the word that was used to announce good news is used some 30 times in the OT, and 9 of those uses are within this section of scripture. You can see it in verses 19, 22, 25, 26, 27, 31.
Well, someone has to tell the King the news that Absalom is now dead, and Zadok, the priest, has a son who is eager to spread the news. But Joab is not too keen on this idea because Joab remembers how David responded in the past when news was brought to him concerning Saul’s death and concerning Ish-bosheth’s death. David had the messenger executed. Although the circumstances were different in each of those cases, this is what stuck out to Joab. David killed the messenger. Plus, Ahimaz, there was no prize being handed out for this. So Joab assigns a Cushite to be the one to carry the news to David. After all, who cares if he is executed. So Joab sends off the Cushite, who takes off running to where David was. But Ahimaz insists that he go as well. And since the Cushite had a head start, Joab didn’t think it all that big of a deal if Ahimaz went as well, knowing full well that the Cushite would arrive first to David and would have already told him the news of Absalom’s death.
Wouldn’t you know it, Ahimaz is some kind of track star, and he ends up beating the Cushite to David’s location. And Ahimaz shares the news, “Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delivered up the men who raised their hand against my lord the king!” This is good news! This is great news! The kingdom has been rescued from the threat. The kingdom is intact. The kingdom is safe! The kingdom of God has conquered. But it is as if David never heard those words. His only concern was Absalom. Was Absalom treated gently? Is it well with him?
Ahimaz could not bring himself to tell David that part of the good news. He shuffled his feet, kicked the dirt, and said, “You know, there was some type of dust up that involved Absalom, but I am not aware of all the details.” He lied.
So right on his heels, the Cushite shows up and said, “Good news for my lord the King! The LORD has delivered YOU this day from the hand of all who raise up against you!”
Once again! Good news! Great News! The Kingdom has not fallen into corrupt hands. The enemy has been delivered over to God to receive justice. But once again, David is only concerned about one thing—Absalom. Is he okay? Is he safe? Is he secure?
The Cushite is brave enough to tell King David that his son has been handed over to God, and he does so in an ever politically correct way. And upon hearing this, David moves up the stairs into the watchmen’s chamber, and weeps and weeps and weeps. “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”
David wished that he had died instead of receiving mercy from the Lord. David wept and wept after hearing of Absalom’s death, which is the exact opposite of what he did in chapter 12, where upon hearing of another sons death, he washed his face, and broke his fast.
Joab confronts David and makes him face the people and restores their confidence
Our story ends with David grieving to a point that it made the people of Israel ashamed of what they had done in the war. They returned to the city with heads down, shuffling their feet, like they had lost, even though it was a victory. As Joab says in this text to David, “you love those who hate you and hate those who love you.”
So what is going on here? Is it wrong that David is grieving? No I do not think it is wrong. Is David grieving in a sinful way? Yes I believe he is. And we will dive into that next week.
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Feb 07, 2025
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:05:00 min.
00:05:00 min.
Day by Day - 2 Samuel
A Real Hairy Mess
Our pride can entangle us in a mess we cannot escape from on our own.
#daybydaylw
Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!
~~~
Well, here is the climax! 2 Samuel 18:9 tells us that Absalom is caught in the thick of the of the forest trees by the thickness of his hair! His earthly pride and glory has made him to be caught in a trap.
But we need to pay attention to the details of this part of the text. The narrator tells us that Absalom’s mule went on without him. The mule was the preferred travel partner of the king, and now that mule goes on without Absalom on his back. Fitting picture, don’t you think? The kingdom slips right out of his hands because Absalom’s vanity gets him all tangled up into a helpless position.
Another detail we need to see is that little phrase, “suspended between heaven and earth.” That is a bit dramatic, don’t you think? But it is true, nonetheless. He is rejected by heaven, and he is of no earthly good. His own pride is his own cursing. And he is found to be hanging in the balance, in a tree.
And the real nail biter of this text is, “What is going to happen to Absalom? Will he be found, and will people deal gently with him?
Remember what Deuteronomy 21:23 says, and this particular verse would have likely been registering in the minds of the original audience—“…for a hanged man is cursed by God.”
So the original audience would have definitely thought that Absalom was a cursed man, and that he was cursed by God. And surely he was!
You see, we are all Absalom’s in this passage, who face the reality of our earthly pride and glory being the very things that entrap and entangle us in such a mess that we cannot escape or find relief from them. What we deem as our greatest attributes and achievements will be the greatest evidence against us as we stand before a holy God, cursed by our own vanity and pride and sin. Sin is pride. Sin is the boasting of self over God. And the wages of sin is death.
We are all riding mules, trying to establish our own kingdoms, in rebellion against God’s kingdom. And whether we realize it or not, we are all riding towards a showdown with the judgment of God. We were all under the curse of sin.
But we are people who read our bibles through New Testament lenses. As we read through the OT, we want to understand the OT fully in its original context, but we also know that much of what we read in the NT is a fulfillment of many types and shadows and prophecies. And we read in the NT in Galatians 3:13 “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree.”
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Feb 06, 2025
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:03:43 min.
00:03:43 min.
Day by Day - 2 Samuel
A Father’s Dilemma
We often wish to see the best in those we love, even when they’re unrepentant.
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Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!
~~~
Conflict—2 Samuel 18:4-5 “And the king ordered Joab and Abishai, and Ittai, ‘Deal gently (softly, warmly, soothingly) for my sake with the young man Absalom.’ And all the people heard when the king gave orders to all the commanders about about Absalom.”
The idea behind “dealing gently” is to deal softly, warmly, soothingly. Is this a statement that sounds worthy of Absalom?
Absalom, the one who took matters into his own hands, shirking the law of God, and murdering his half-brother Amnon. Absalom, the one who grew impatient with Joab, and burned his fields to get his attention. Absalom, the one who worked with subtlety and secrecy, fooling the men of Israel into thinking that he was a better judge a better manager, and would make a better king than his father David. Absalom, the one who blew the trumpet and announced war upon David.
Does this statement made by David sound like the statement a King would make regarding an enemy, a threat to his kingdom? No! It doesn’t sound like that at all!
But does this statement sound like a statement that a father would make towards a son? Yes. Yes it does. David desires gentleness rather than justice. David’s love for his son overwhelms his sensibility, and his hope or wishes for his son cloud his thinking and lead to his passivity .
And this is the conflict—David’s earthly fatherly desire versus what his role as the anointed king and doing what is best for the kingdom of God.
I am sure we can identify with this, especially those of you who are parents. You want to believe the best about your kids. You want to believe that they have the best intentions. You want to believe that they are coming to their senses even as we speak and that they do not intend to bring harm on anyone, that they are just a little off course and if you could just love them a little more, and if people would join you in dealing gently with them, then they would turn things around. He or she just need more time, more space, more understanding.
But we haven’t seen any repentance on the part of Absalom, have we? We haven’t seen any remorse in his words or actions. We have not seen any indication that there is a positive movement towards holiness. We have only seen Absalom operate according to his own agenda and the pursuit of his own kingdom, his own selfishness. We have only seen a pushing from one extreme to the next in the pursuit of his desires.
So this is the tension. What will happen in regards to these instructions by King David, father of Absalom.
As we keep reading this story, the next set of verses gives us the summary of the battle that took place. Three verses. No details except that the battle took place in the forest, and the forest’s terrain was responsible for more of the victory given to King David’s side than the actual soldiers. It is a short battle scene. The battle/war is not important. What is important is what happens to Absalom.
So what happens? Come back tomorrow to find out, or read for yourself in 2 Samuel 18.
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Feb 05, 2025
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:03:59 min.
00:03:59 min.
Day by Day - 2 Samuel
Best For Thee Or Best For Me?
Sometimes we must consider if what we are doing is only best for us, or best for God’s people.
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Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!
~~~
Chapter 18 begins with David dividing up his troops and setting over them leaders and commanders. The three most prominent leaders are Joab, Abishai, and Ittai. You will remember Joab and Abishai from early on in 2 Samuel. Both of these men are nephews of David, sons of his sister. Ittai was introduced to us in chapter 15 as one who would be loyal to David come what every may come.
And we see some back and forth as to whether it would be good for David to go out to war with them. David wants to go with them, but his commanders say it would be better if he did not. His life was too valuable to the overall welfare of the kingdom, so he needed to stay behind and run point from a safer place than the front lines. David acquiesces, but his relenting comes with a little caveat, that I believe shows us his true intention as to why he wanted to go to the front lines to begin with. Would he do what is best for the kingdom of Israel, or would he do what he thought best for his son Absalom? And this is where we run into our conflict, or tension of the story that we will study this week.
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Feb 04, 2025
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:01:54 min.
00:01:54 min.
Day By Day Expressions
Day By Day Expressions
Worship services take effort and consideration to coordinate and prepare.
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Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Feb 03, 2025
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:10:04 min.
00:10:04 min.
Day by Day - 2 Samuel
He Is Simply Arranging Chess Pieces
God’s Kingdom will not be overthrown because He has already arranged all the pieces.
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Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!
~~~
The conclusion to all that we have studied this week is pretty simple:
Our hope, our confidence is in the eternal durability, unstoppability, unconquerable king and kingdom of God. And we can have confidence in this hope because of the resurrection. Stay true to God’s kingdom through the submission to the Holy Spirit.
When it looks like God’s people are going to be defeated, going to be erased from the pages of history, don’t lose hope. God is simply arranging the pieces on the chessboard. His Kingdom will not be overthrown because His King has already conquered all that He needs to guarantee His success. And because of that you are a part of an unstoppable kingdom.
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Jan 31, 2025
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:01:18 min.
00:01:18 min.
Day by Day - 2 Samuel
Spycraft And The Foolishness Of Haters
God can use the foolishness of haters for His plan.
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Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!
~~~
We have already noted the central statement of "For the Lord had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel”—as being a statement of God’s providence. But how does the providence play out? That is what we see in 2 Samuel 17-18.
But for our purposes of today, take note that God can use the foolishness of haters.
This always brings us to an ethical question, because within this text we see spy craft and deception. Are these acts ethical, moral? Let me direct you to a fascinating conversation between Dr. Al Mohler and a former agent in the CIA. The podcast is called “Thinking in Public,” and the name of the episode is “Spycraft and Soulcraft on the Front Lines of History.” Give that a listen and see if that will help you.
As we continue to read the text we see spies having to dive into a well; we see the craftiness of a wife spreading grain over the well to make it appear as if nothing was underneath. It’s a real whale of a story here.
But then we see Ahithophel once more, and he sees the writing on the wall. He knows what is to come for his betrayal. He sees that Absalom doesn’t trust him, and that David would likely succeed in a war, and then Ahithophel would be executed. So he chooses to take his own life.
And then we get this geographical bit of information so that we know where Absalom’s army is. They are in the land of Gilead, east of the Jordan Riverwhich has been, in the past, favorable to anti-David campaigns.
But David and his crew are a bit south of Gilead, but still pretty close to Absalom’s camp, in the region of Mahanaim, and there they find favorable company, where they are provided beds, bathrooms, pots, pans, food, and refreshment. It all makes you wonder if it wasn’t this very treatment that inspired David to write “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.”
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Jan 30, 2025
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:03:21 min.
00:03:21 min.
Day by Day - 2 Samuel
Stop Moping Around
We should not hesitate to obey God’s call because we are afraid of failing.
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Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!
~~~
The threats to God’s kingdom that exist are many. There is the threat from the external enemy, but there is also the threat from within.
All of us who have experienced the grace of God in salvation know that the fight doesn’t end there don’t we. Our struggle against sin continues. The difference between a believer’s struggle and battle against sin and an unbeliever’s struggle is that the believer is fully equipped to battle, where the unbeliever is not, and does not really want to battle it.
But there is something in this wider text we need to realize, take comfort in, regarding the believer’s sin. This whole mess started because of David’s sin. And as wide as these ripple effects go, David’s sin is not able to overthrow the kingdom of God.
You see, I believe that many times as Christians, we get into our heads a defensive posture of not doing what we know God has commanded us or called us to do because we believe we will mess it up big time. And so we just sit on the sidelines. But David will learn a lesson here. And we need to learn the lesson as well—The kingdom will not be overthrown by our sin. Why is that? Because our sin has been forgiven, removed from the ledger, cast away from us as far as east is from the west. Praise be to God!
So believer, you must believe this aspect of the gospel as well. And since this is true, then your work within the kingdom is not over, has not been cancelled. Take hope in this believer. There is a place for you. There is a purpose. There is a work for you. Stop moping around, being pitiful, and get after it.
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Jan 29, 2025
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:02:39 min.
00:02:39 min.
Day by Day - 2 Samuel
His Kingdom Will Not Be Stopped
Sin is a frontal assault on the kingdom of God, but we are rescued from it by God’s grace.
#daybydaylw
Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!
~~~
There are two ways a king and kingdom can be overthrown, and that is either by external forces, or from within, by internal forces. You can have an enemy overthrow the kingdom, or you can have a coup take place. We have all those scenarios in our text for study this week in 2 Samuel 17.
The first threat we come across is the enemy’s attempt to sabotage the kingdom.
In this passage, Absalom is the external threat. He is the threat to King David, God’s anointed one, and by extension, Absalom is the threat to God’s kingdom. And we see clearly that God ordained that Ahithophel’s good counsel would be defeated, but why? Well, the text answers that for us as well when it says, “SO THAT the LORD might bring harm upon Absalom.” We will read and study about that harm next week. It’s a real hairy mess, if you catch my drift.
And the real laugh that is taking place here, is that God is going to take the insight and strength of the enemy and turn it on its head to work against the enemy.
When we step back and think about this, we realize that, biblically speaking, we have all been born wanting to overthrow God’s kingdom, or we have wanted the throne for ourselves. This is at the heart of sin. Sin is not a mere dismissal of God and His word. Sin is not a bit postmodern foolishness where we say, “Well, that may be okay for God but this is what is true for me.” Sin is a frontal assault on the Creator of universe. It is a satanic attempt to sabotage God’s kingdom. And what is needed to rescue us from ourselves is for someone to overthrow our own hearts, and that is exactly what takes place in the gospel. God, because of His grace and mercy, invades our souls. He regenerates our heart, gives us a new heart, gives us faith to believe, justifies us, adopts us into his family, sets us upon the Rock of of His Son, washes us, cleanses us, forgives us, gives us eternal life! This is the gospel, and this is what we desperately need, and what many of you have experienced! Praise be to God!
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Jan 28, 2025
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:03:05 min.
00:03:05 min.
Day By Day Expressions
Day By Day Expressions
Churches oftentimes under use the talents of the creative people in their midst.
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Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Jan 27, 2025
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:05:59 min.
00:05:59 min.
Day by Day - 2 Samuel
What Is Your Advice Like?
When we seek someone’s advice, it should be rooted in righteousness and integrity.
#daybydaylw
Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!
~~~
In 2 Samuel 16 we have Absalom and his entourage marching into Jerusalem, with Ahithophel at his side. We must remember that Ahithophel was a very trusted advisor to David, who traded sides, and who has now joined forces with Absalom. But not only is there Ahithophel, we are also re-introduced to a man named Hushai. Hushai, you will remember, was sent into Jerusalem by David as a spy, so that David could know what Absalom would be up to with his military plans. This is the context and these are the characters of this current episode—Absalom, the Usurper; Ahithophel, the Advisor; and Hushai, the Spy.
Quite the tense and exciting story we have here. Will Hushai succeed in his task, or will Absalom or Ahithophel discover the secret intentions of Hushai? Will his cover be blown?
As we continue to read, the question surfaces as to how Absalom should make his presence felt and known in Jerusalem. What should be his official coming out statement? So he turns to Ahithophel and says, “What advice do you have for me?”
Ahithophel looks around the King’s house, ponders, and then says, “I think the most dramatic and clearest statement we can make to all the people that you are now the king, is if you conquer all of your father’s concubines. In this way all of Israel will know that you not only defy your father, but that you have taken over his throne.”
Remember, when David ascended the throne of Israel, he too assumed or took in all the wives and concubines of Saul. In that day, that was a sign of possession. Women were treated like property, and so if you took over their wives and concubines, then you were taking over their property.
But what happens in our text today is that Absalom does so in a fashion that is done in public in order to humiliate and shame David. But this as well should not be surprising because God told David through the prophet Nathan that this very thing would happen to David.
Now the important feature of this part of the story comes in 16:23 “Now in those days the counsel that Ahithophel gave was as if one consulted the word of God; so was all the counsel of Ahithophel esteemed, both by David and by Absalom.”
Now remember, the question at hand by Absalom is, “What shall we do?” What should we do to make the kingdom of Absalom known?
So Ahithophel doesn’t stop with just the advice of setting up a brothel on the roof of the king’s house. He also advises Absalom to let Ahithophel gather up 12,000 soldiers and go hunt down David. He would only hunt down David, and he would bring back the rest of David’s people to be in the kingdom of Absalom. And Absalom and all the elders of Israel agreed with Ahithophel. His plan made perfect sense to them. Let Ahithophel go out and fight the battle while Ahithophel stayed back, on the king’s roof, and amplify the sin that David committed by 100.
What are we to learn from this little segment of this story? I think one truth we can glean is that when we seek someone’s counsel, that counsel should be rooted in righteousness and integrity. Although Ahithophel’s advice may have been politically expedient, it was divorced from any moral truth.
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Jan 21, 2025
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:04:40 min.
00:04:40 min.
Day By Day Expressions
Day By Day Expressions
Churches oftentimes under use the talents of the creative people in their midst.
#daybydaylw
Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Jan 20, 2025
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:07:19 min.
00:07:19 min.
Day by Day - 2 Samuel
Are You Willing To Walk On The Trail?
When we see someone hurting, we should be a friend who uplifts them.
#daybydaylw
Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!
~~~
Friend, are you in the wilderness, knowing not which way to turn or walk? Are you in a season where there is a trail of tears behind you. It may be that you are there because of your own doing and choices you have made. Very possible. Will you have faith enough to say with David, “whatever comes, I will trust the Lord. I desire and long for his favor, but I will submit to his discipline as well, for whatever comes my way as His child, it is ultimately good.”
And on that trail, when prayers are made as you walk up the mountain, you can trust that God’s answer is already walking up the other side to meet you.
You may not be walking through a trail of tears of your own this morning. But what we have seen in these events are people who are willing to walk with David in his grief. Ittai, Zadock, Abiathar, and now Hushai. Friends who stick closer than a brother. Friends who are willing to lay down their lives, their time. Friends who are willing to walk the dusty trail, so that it won’t be a trail of loneliness. Are you that friend today? Are you willing to hold up the weak arms of another, and help straighten the collapsing knees? Or will you sit on the sidelines as the caravan of hurt passes by?
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Jan 17, 2025
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:02:00 min.
00:02:00 min.
Day by Day - 2 Samuel
God’s Providence Is Pushing Through The Crowd
Sometimes we expect a supernatural answer to prayer, but God works in routine providence.
#daybydaylw
Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!
~~~
God’s Providence—-Read the text 15:32-37
You have to see this picture in your mind. We are told in 2 Samuel 15:30 that while David was traveling to the top of the Mount of Olive, he was told of Ahithophel. And while traveling to the top, he prayed that guttural prayer “please turnt he counsels of Ahithophel into foolishness”. And then we read in verse 32, “While David was coming to the summit, where God was worshiped, a man by the name of Hushai showed up! Hushai was sharing in the distress of David, robe torn, dirt on his head as symbols of being in mourning. And here is the answer to David’s prayer from verse 31. Notice that David says, “…you will defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel.”
This is absolutely God’s providence on display for all of us to see and take hope in. While David was taking one strained step after another, trying to make it to the summit, carrying his broken heart, tears in his eyes and this prayer on his lips, while all of that was going on and David reaches the summit, the designated place of worship, Hushai is pushing through the crowd to get to David.
My friends, see in this passage, that when you think all is lost, when confusion has set in, don’t ever forget that God is moving in the crowds, God hears your prayers, and He has already put the answer to your prayers in motion. This is the providence of God.
Now, the answer to the prayer, especially for us, may be difficult to discern, because I think we are always thinking in terms of the unexpected, supernatural, when many times, the answer to the prayer is in the routine providences of God. We just have to have the spiritual insight and discernment to recognize what is going on.
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Jan 16, 2025
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:02:35 min.
00:02:35 min.
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