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Day by Day - 2 Samuel
No One Is Speaking Truth
Leaders must surround themselves with followers who will speak the truth.
#daybydaylw
Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!
~~~
Here in 2 Samuel 14, David is duped by a well-dramatized woman. We are told that Joab employed a “wise” woman from Tekoa. This word “wise” is the same word used in chapter 13 to describe Jonadab as “crafty.”
And it is not hard to see that Joab is employing the same cunning as did Nathan when Nathan confronted David’s sin against Bathsheba, Uriah, and Israel, which invites us to compare these two confrontations.
When Nathan confronts David, Nathan is sent by God, and the goal is repentance and forgiveness. But when this actress weaves her tale in front of David, she is sent by Joab, who has put words in her mouth in order to change the course of things. What is left unsaid are the intentions and motivations of Joab.
Nathan tells a story that so enrages David that he thinks it is real. The woman pretends to tell a true story that David eventually sniffs out as the ploy of Joab.
Nathan’s story paralleled David’s offense. But the woman’s story did not parallel David’s current situation. It is obvious she is trying to make a comparison, but in her story, it is not murder but rather manslaughter that is the offense.
And probably most telling, in Nathan’s confrontation, David’s conscience is pricked and set against his feelings. But in the woman’s story, it is the appeal to David’s feelings as a father that are set against his conscience being captive to God’s word.
In Nathan’s story, Nathan uses bold truth to confront David saying, “You have despised the word of the LORD,”, but in the scene before us today, the woman uses flattery, saying two different times, “You are like an angel of God to discern good and evil, and you have the wisdom to know all things that are on the earth.”
Proverbs 29:5 “A man who flatters his neighbor sets a net for his feet.”
No one is speaking truth to David in these days, and David is not inquiring of the Lord. Nine times we read of David inquiring of the Lord in 1-2 Samuel. But he hasn’t done so anywhere in these episodes that we are aware of, and he won’t do it again until chapter 21.
No one is around David at this point, at least from our vantage point, who is willing to confront David’s passiveness and adherence to the worldly craftiness and flattery that is around him. No one is near him to point out his missteps.
As a leader, you must surround yourself with people who will speak truth to you, and do so, not only for your sake, but for the sake of those whom you are leading. Men, husbands, fathers, with whom are you surrounding yourselves? Are they speaking biblical truth to you? Are you speaking biblical truth to them? Or are the words you are bouncing back and forth to one another simply the latest jargon of the day—“It is what it is.”
Ladies, wives, moms, do you lead with the sword of the Spirit readily accessible on your tongue, or is your counsel filled with, “In my experience,” or “What I think is..”
Im not sure anyone needs to care about what you think or what your experience is. What they need is God’s guidance and wisdom, and how that has played out in your life, what happens when you wander from it, and what happens when you adhere to it.
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Jan 01, 2025
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:04:49 min.
00:04:49 min.
Day by Day - 2 Samuel
Getting Caught Up On Samuel
A recap of the chapters of 2 Samuel Clif has discussed so far.
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Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!
~~~
We are in the middle of our study through the book known as Samuel, and we find ourselves in 2 Samuel 14 this morning. For somewhat of a broad overview, the whole story of Samuel begins in the time of the judges, when everyone did what was right in their own eyes, and there was no king in Israel, no true national leader to protect the people or point them to the living God. The priestly system was mostly corrupt and the worship was less than stellar. God brings to the nation of Israel the man Samuel who restores the word of God to a better place among the people. They listen to him, but they also see that his time was limited, and since they didn’t trust his sons too much, they begged him that they could have a king like the other nations had. This request made Samuel very angry and very disappointed. God had been leading quite well, why in the world would they not trust him further. But God instructs Samuel to allow them to choose for themselves a king. And they choose Saul, a man who was muy guapo. In fact, the text tells us in 1 Samuel 9 that there was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he, AND he stood head and shoulders above the people.
But it didn’t take long to figure out that good looks and height do not a king make. Saul was not the right type of king. He would not listen to God, but instead acted according to his own ways. As such, God promised that he would rip the kingdom, in due time, from Saul. While that was going on, we watched the rise of another young man, who wasn’t tall or carrying an impressive king resume. The young man was a shepherd, but he loved the Lord and was quick to respond to the Lord’s leading. And it would be this young boy, young David, who would eventually become the King over Israel. And 1 Samuel is the account of this fall of Saul and rise of David.
So 2 Samuel begins with David’s taking over the throne of all of Israel, gaining the trust and acclaim of the people. And when the dust settle on David’s military battles, David decides that he wants to honor God by building God a permanent temple, a forever resting place. But God would have none of it, and instead, God promises to build David an everlasting dynasty, house, lineage, kingdom. And this is what is known as the Davidic Covenant.
So David is riding the wave of the promise of an eternal kingdom. How could things go wrong at this point? God has poured out blessing upon blessing on David. Who in their right mind would name the sermon series over these events, “When Misery Meets Mercy”? THere is no misery to be found. That is until we reach 2 Samuel 11, the infamous account of David and Bathsheba. Misery knocked on the heart of David, disguised as entitlement.
David’s adultery with Bathsheba and murder of Bathsheba’s husband set us on the course of events that we find ourselves encountered with today in the text. Since the affair with David and Bathsheba, Bathsheba had given birth to a boy, and Nathan the prophet confronted David, with the result of David confessing and repenting of his sin, being forgiven, but having to deal with the consequences of his sin, and that being losing that baby boy, and also the ongoing turmoil that will ravage his family.
Chapter 13 begins with Absalom and his sister and half-brother. It is important to note that the chapter begins with Absalom, even though he plays a minor role in the events of chapter 13. It begins with Absalom because even though he is a minor player in chapter 13, he is a major player in chapters 13-18.
So Absalom’s step brother, Amnon, has fallen in love with Absalom’s full sister, Tamar. Or rather, Amnon is being driven mad by lust, by wanting someone who shows no interest in him. This leads Amnon to rape and then hate Tamar, leaving her destitute. Once Absalom hears about this, he goes to Tamar and hides her away, leaving no way for Amnon to repent and restore the relationship, and leaving no room for King David to require recompense from Amnon.
Instead, Absalom seethes and strategizes, waiting for the perfect opportunity to take vengeance into his own hands. Two years after the events of Amnon and Tamar, Absalom plans a party, invites Amnon, with whom he has never let on that he is boiling with hatred towards him, and then commands his servants to murder Amnon. As a result, Absalom goes on the run, and hides away at his grandfather’s (his mother’s father) house.
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Dec 31, 2024
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:06:23 min.
00:06:23 min.
Day By Day Expressions
Day By Day Expressions
Clif and Johnny discuss pieces of music that inspired Johnny.
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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
Dec 30, 2024
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:04:57 min.
00:04:57 min.
Day by Day - Christmas
The Journey Was Worth It
Having Jesus as the center and focus of our destination makes the journey worth it.
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Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!
~~~
The incarnation of Jesus, coming into the world, is what made the journey worth it for the wise men. Can you imagine? After all that travel, the restless nights hoping the star would still be there the next day to guide them; the uncertainty of what is going to happen to them once they entered Jerusalem, the star finally stops and hovers over a humble home. As they enter the room their eyes land on a bushy haired boy, who doesn’t look any different than any other boy they have seen. But they do know he is different. He is the king of the Jews. They approach him with gifts in hand. Hugs given to Mary. Handshakes and slight bow to Joseph. And as they bring the wooden door to a close behind them and walk slowly towards their camels, tears stroll down their faces. They look up into the night sky, and whisper a prayer of praise to God—“Thank you. The journey was worth it.” Having Jesus at the center and focus and destination of your journey makes the journey that you are on, no matter how difficult, it makes the journey worth it.
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Dec 27, 2024
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:01:51 min.
00:01:51 min.
Day by Day - Christmas
Jesus Was For Them!
Jesus invites the poor and needy to come to Him, so there is room for everyone.
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Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!
~~~
“And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all people.” Luke 2:10
This baby is the good news of great joy for the shepherds. The shepherds were no one’s top choice for anything, except to be exiled into the fields. They were not being invited over to anyone’s home for dinner. And yet, God chose to break through the night into their reality, and deliver a message that was FOR THEM! Good news FOR THEM. The message they were used to receiving were likely messages of rejection. But on that night, radiant angels beaming with the very glory of God, invited them into the earthly throne room to see THE Savior, The Messiah, The Lord. And when they carefully traversed their way into the city, to the inn, to the stable, they were welcomed by Joseph and Mary to gaze upon the One who is the Savior, for despised and rejected men like them.
And we must, we must remember that in order to have this Savior, we must recognize that we are the poor and needy, we are the outcast, who has been invited into His Kingdom. And unless we come in that manner, humbled that the highest prize of heaven would reach down into our dark and pitiful lives, then we will not see Him as Savior and Lord, and we will not follow in the steps of the shepherds, returning to our lives glorifying and praising God for all that has been told to us.
Knowing that Jesus invites in the poor and needy assures us that there is always an invitation for us, and when we come, we realize that in Christ we have all the wealth we need.
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Dec 26, 2024
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:02:31 min.
00:02:31 min.
Day by Day - Christmas
Worth Every Slanderous Word
When we are saved, we become the light of the world.
#daybydaylw
Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!
~~~
Bearing this baby, born king of the Jews, was worth every slanderous word hurled at Mary.
“Vow-breaker”
“Unfaithful”
“How could you do that to Joseph?”
“Jezebel”
There is no telling what all Mary had to endure. We know that for a while she escaped to Elizabeth’s home. But we also know that at some point she came back home because we are told she travelled with Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem.
On top of the normal trials and struggles of being pregnant with child, did she question God’s plan? Did she ask for a way out? Did she think she was going crazy? Think of all the questions running through her mind! Should a stronger woman be doing this? A wiser one? An older one?
Mary reminds us that bearing suffering, whether it be physical, relational, mental, because of your relationship to Jesus, is a burden worth carrying, for the sake of Jesus, and the eternal reward of His presence. Luke tells us that after the shepherds told her all that had happened to him, that Mary treasured those words, pondering them in her heart. Those words mean that while everyone else was talking about what the shepherds had told them and marveling over them, Mary was doing something different. She was preserving those words, keeping them from fading away, treasuring them. But also “pondering” them. It means she was putting the words together, letting those words from the shepherds talk to one another. In other words, she was putting the pieces together. “Oh I remember now, the prophet told us that messiah would be born in the Bethlehem, the City of David. That is why the census really took place. He is going to be a savior for all people. That is why the prophet told us the messiah would be a light for the Gentiles.” And on and on, she thought and pondered. And she realized, perhaps, that she was the fulfillment of the virgin prophecy in Isaiah 7.
Yes, bearing the burden of suffering, for the sake of Jesus, would be, IS still, worth it.
And so we light the Christ Candle. The LIGHT of his life is our light. His life is our destination. Being present with Him forever is worth the journey. HE invites people like you and me to Himself to be saved, to be rescued, to be redeemed, to be brought into His fellowship. And He alone makes every heartache, every tear that falls, worth it.
How can I say all that? I can say it with confidence because we know that in the gazing upon the baby, each of these groups of people (Wise men, shepherds, Mary) saw much more than just a cozy baby with heart-warming smile. They knew him to be the Savior. They may not have known in that moment, but time would reveal to us that the way Jesus shows Himself to be the savior of all different types of people, the way God can bring peace to those with whom he is pleased, is by what Jesus does with His life. God the Son who came to earth in the flesh would go to the cross to shoulder God the Father’s fury. Fury that is for shepherds who deserve to be cast out. Fury for young girls who have been rebels against God’s word instead of servants; fury for men who went the opposite that creation points them towards. Fury for people like m, and like you. Jesus, in his pure flesh, became the substitute sacrifice for all these types of people. You see, the manger is just the beginning of his humility. The cross is the ultimate banner of His humility. That dark Bethlehem night was visited with a ray of light in the birth of Jesus. But in His resurrection, the light of His life burst forth against all darkness, declaring a loud and thunderous victory over the darkness of sin and death.
It is not just the recognition of these realities that brings salvation. It is the simplicity of humble faith in these realities that brings salvation from hell, redemption and restoration to God, and wholeness to your life.
And we also must understand that when we are saved, we become light of the world. Salvation is a free gift of grace, but it doesn’t come without consequence. Salvation changes a person, completely, and continually. We are to spread the LIGHT, spread the message, because He is the Hope of a lost world. HE is the LIGHT in a dark world. There is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Dec 25, 2024
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:05:47 min.
00:05:47 min.
Day by Day - Christmas
Advent Is Good Because People Are Bad
The birth of Jesus provided hope that things could change.
#daybydaylw
Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!
~~~
Advent is good for us because people are bad. The bright light of Christmas is glorious because hearts are lost in darkness. The prophet Isaiah would make this plain when he spoke the Lord’s judgment against Israel.
The Lord brought a judgment as dark as the Hebrew people’s hearts, a darkness as gloomy as the night sky. The Lord provided them with peace, but they chose chaos. He brought them rivers of joy, but they chose rebellion.
But when all hope appeared to be dashed, Isaiah brought a glimmer of hope, a ray of light.
“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them light has shone.”
For this light they waited…and waited.
And so we light this candle this evening. It is the candle of Hope. And just like the Israelites waited for the Light to dawn, we too wait for this Light to return in full glory and splendor.
It was their hope that once this light dawned, that everything would change, and the eyes of their hearts would be opened to see the Immanuel.
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Dec 24, 2024
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:02:20 min.
00:02:20 min.
Day by Day - 2 Samuel
Why Would He Do That?
God’s providence pushes and pulls events toward His planned end.
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Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!
~~~
We are studying 2 Samuel 16, where Absalom has no reason at all to do what he did next, but he does it anyway. He calls for Hushai! You remember Hushai? He had been sent by David back into Jerusalem to be a spy for David. Why would Absalom seek out the advice of Hushai, when it has already been told to us that Ahithophel’s advice and counsel seemed as if it was always from God, especially since this particular piece of advice that we just read seemed right in the eyes of Absalom. So why would Absalom call in Hushai? The hidden providence of God.
Not only that, but when Absalom called in Hushai, Absalom told him Ahithophel’s plan. If you are truly seeking advice, and want to weigh the counsel of one against the other, you give each adviser the same information. But that is not what happens here. Absalom gives to Hushai Ahithophel’s blueprint. Now all Hushai has to do is poke holes in Ahithophel’s strategy. And that is exactly what Hushai did.
He poked holes in Ahithophel’s plan by appealing to history. “Absalom, you know that your father and his men are mighty warriors. They have been doing this for years. I assure you, they are not tired, and they have not grown weary. They live for this type of warfare. Not only that, but they are enraged. You also know that your father is not going to be staying with the people. He is too smart for that! He will be in a cave somewhere.”
Hushai also appeals to fear—“And you know that your men, when they hear that just one person has been slain by one of David’s mighty men, all your men, even your bravest of men, will run away like school children. They have heard the stories Absalom! They grew up with David and these men as their heroes!”
And then Hushai appeals to Absalom’s pride—“Absalom, don’t let Ahithophel go into battle as the leader. You Go! And you take all the men with you. And we will sneak up on him like dew on the ground. We will surround and overwhelm not just David, but all his men. He will not be able to escape us.”
And this plan seemed like a better plan to Absalom. But then we get the reason why—“For the Lord had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the Lord might bring harm upon Absalom.”
One of the realities we must keep in mind as we read our bibles is that these characters are not just characters. They were real people, these were real events, real history. And we get a behind the scenes commentary in seeing all of this happen under the umbrella of God’s providence. And God’s providence is still pushing and pulling history to God’s appointed end.
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Jan 22, 2025
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:04:03 min.
00:04:03 min.
Day by Day - 2 Samuel
When Justice Goes Rogue
Absalom let his anger fester for two years while he plotted revenge on Amnon.
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~~~
In verse 28, the plot that has been cooking in Absalom’s mind comes out. He tells his servants, “When Amnon gets a little tipsy, kill him. He will never see it coming. And boys, don’t worry about a thing. I have commanded you to do this. I am taking responsibility. Be courageous and obey me.”
Absalom’s speech makes it seem like his servants were a little hesitant. And we can certainly understand why. After all, Amnon is King David’s oldest son, the presumed heir to throne. To raise your hand against him would bring upon you a certain death sentence. So Absalom has to talk them into this. He has to assure them that he is the one taking full responsibility for this.
And then we read verse 29—“So the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom commanded.
This whole scene gives us some more insight into the very first phrase we read in verse 23, doesn’t it. It wasn’t just two full years after the events of Amnon and Tamar.
It was two full years of Amnon thinking he had gotten away with something.
It was two full years of Absalom not letting on his anger and hatred of Amnon.
It was two full years of a controlled hatred seething and growing.
It was two full years of plotting and scheming on Absalom’s part.
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Dec 20, 2024
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:03:16 min.
00:03:16 min.
Day by Day - 2 Samuel
After Two Full Years…
Sometimes there are long periods of silence between sin and consequence.
#daybydaylw
Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!
~~~
So then we come to our passage for study this morning, and it begins this way:
“After two full years…” That is our setting of the scene for the next events about to transpire. It may not seem like much information, but let it sink in. There is something being communicated in that statement. The author doesn’t want us to think that the next events took place just a few days later. It was “two FULL years.”
Two years after Amnon listened to Jonadab’s wicked, crafty scheme.
Two years after David foolishly sent Tamar to Amnon’s house.
Two years after Amnon lied in wait, feigning sickness.
Two years after Tamar tended to Amnon.
Two years after Amnon laid hold of Tamar’s arm and jerked her to his side.
Two years after Tamar pleaded with him to stop.
Two years after Tamar was kicked out of Amnon’s house like a piece of trash.
Two years after Tamar ran away weeping and wailing
Two years after Absalom took her in and told her to be quiet.
But it wasn’t just two years after these events.
It was two full years of Jonadab taking mental notes of the family dynamics.
This is the setting as it is given to us.
The Conflict, vss. 23-27
And then we are introduced to the conflict of this story. The time has come for a little sheep-shearing on Absalom’s farm and it is taking place near Ephraim, about 15 miles away from the capitol city of Jerusalem. So Absalom goes to his father, King David, wanting to make this a family affair. But we quickly discover that Absalom is really only interested in having Amnon there. After King David protests and says that it would be too costly for Absalom to host all the family, Absalom presses David to send Amnon. King David doesn’t really know why Amnon’s attendance is so important to this sheep-shearing party, but he finally concedes.
But us readers, we have pick up on something, don’t we? We see the tension. Absalom has not been exactly friendly to Amnon, not overly harsh, but not exactly buddy-buddy either. We know something is cooking.
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Dec 19, 2024
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:03:48 min.
00:03:48 min.
Day By Day Expressions
Day By Day Expressions
Christians can use music to recognize God’s beauty and share it with others.
#daybydaylw
Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Dec 23, 2024
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:05:18 min.
00:05:18 min.
Day by Day - 2 Samuel
Where Is God?
When it seems God is silent, that is when He is shouting the loudest.
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Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!
~~~
SIAS: When it seems like God is silent, that is when He is shouting the loudest.
What does any of that have to do with what we are studying in 2 Samuel? Let’s take a look.
We are in chapter 13, and it is a most devastating chapter. It begins with David’s oldest son, Amnon, letting his lust run out of control to where he violates his own half sister, Tamar. And afterwards, being so full of his own lust, he completely his lust turns to hatred of Tamar, and he casts her out in such a way as to make everyone else think that he is the victim and she is the culprit, leaving her to live in shame.
At the end of the story we read that Tamar’s brother takes her in, provides for her, and tells her to stay silent about the issue, causing her to live a desolate life in Absalom’s house.
The story ends by saying that King David heard about all of this and it angered him, and that Absalom refused to speak to Amnon, his half-brother, neither good nor evil, letting Amnon believe that Absalom didn’t know about the events, or didn’t care about them.
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Dec 18, 2024
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:02:51 min.
00:02:51 min.
Day by Day - 2 Samuel
God Shouts In Silence
When God remains silent in the face of sin, we should take notice.
#daybydaylw
Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!
~~~
Ronan Keiting wrote a song, made popular by Keith Whitley who sang it, called, “When You Say Nothing At All.”
“It's amazing how you can speak right to my heart
Without saying a word, you can light up the dark
Try as I may, I can never explain
What I hear when you don't say a thing
The smile on your face lets me know that you need me
There's a truth in your eyes saying you'll never leave me
The touch of your hand says you'll catch me wherever I fall”
That really is a beautiful song in a lot of ways. And I think that we could all identify with that. Actions speak louder than words, right?
And we could say that God’s glory and goodness and power and holiness is communicated that way. In fact, that is what God himself tells us.
Psalm 19 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God…there is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their measuring line goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.” That means that all the earth hears the declaration of the stars and the moon and the galaxies. That is pretty loud, wouldn’t you say.
But the truth of it is not just one-way. In other words, a person’s silence doesn’t always communicate love and tenderness and care. Sometimes silence communicates other feelings and emotions, like anger or wrath.
When my wife gets silent, I know something is up. I know something needs to be addressed. Her silence is deafening.
And God actually tells us this in His word as well—Romans 1:18 says, “The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.” And the unrighteous have chosen to turn down the volume of God’s voice, and turn up the volume of their own truth, to which, it says in Romans 1 over and over again, “God gave them up…” In other words, He allowed them to keep their fingers in their ears, and dance to the music that was rattling around in their own head. He remained silent in one sense, allowing them to live in the consequences. But what we will learn is that in the silence, God is actually shouting. Come back in the days ahead to understand fully what I mean.
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Dec 17, 2024
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:03:18 min.
00:03:18 min.
Day By Day Expressions
Day By Day Expressions
Clif and Johnny discuss Johnny’s music and inspiration.
#daybydaylw
Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Dec 16, 2024
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:08:13 min.
00:08:13 min.
Day by Day - 2 Samuel
Grace Is Greater
God holds out an offer for forgiveness and reconciliation even to the most wicked.
#daybydaylw
Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!
~~~
What is going on here? Why are we being fed this story? Remember, these are the ripple effects of David’s sin. And as we read, we throw up our hands…again…and say, Adam failed, Abraham failed, Jacob failed, Moses failed, Saul failed. And now David, the man after God’s own heart, is the next domino to fall.
The kingdom of God, the people of God are not safe under the David’s rule, not even the King’s daughter is safe. Her own father chooses to remain passive, he takes no action against his oldest son. Perhaps he thinks he has no business doing so, since he himself committed adultery. Whatever the case, he fails.
But there is a promise given in God’s word that the Lord’s anointed one would
“bring good news to the afflicted,
bind up the brokenhearted,
comfort all who mourn,
give a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit.
Everlasting joy instead of shame.”
And as we have already seen, God is faithful to His word. Jesus comes and bears our guilt, and shame, brings to us new life, free of shame. He holds out the offer of wholeness to a shattered heart, joy instead of sorrow, praise instead of distress. He holds out that promise to those as broken as Tamar, that sin will be paid for, either by His cross, or each man will bear himself the penalty and guilt of his own sin.
Are you a Tamar this morning? You have felt the sting and destruction of abuse? You feel like your life has nothing more to offer? You feel like you are the outcast, been thrown out like trash? Know this—He gives beauty for ashes. He restores life. He can make your heart whole, because he offers not to clean up your life, but to give you new life in His eternal kingdom, where there will be no sin or humiliation or shame.
And as much as we may not like it now, he holds out that offer to people as wicked as Amnon. For grace is greater than all our sin.
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Dec 13, 2024
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:03:10 min.
00:03:10 min.
Day by Day - 2 Samuel
The Desolation Caused By Sin
We should respond with indignation and action to sin, not by sweeping it under the rug.
#daybydaylw
Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!
~~~
In those days the daughters of the king would wear certain garb designating them as unmarried, as virgins. And now that that status has been robbed of Tamar, she tears her clothes, signifying that virginity is no longer the case, and also signifying her state of grief. She puts ash on her head, and leaves the chambers of Amnon with her hands on her head, a symbol that incredible trouble has come upon her, and she is weeping, wailing as she leaves.
She can no longer be offered a royal wedding. Her life has been upended.
Her brother Absalom comes along, figures out what is going on, and asks her to keep silent about it, because, most likely, he is hatching a plan himself to kill Amnon so he can have the throne. He does what he can for her, giving her a home and protection. But the rest of her days are lived out in desolation, the joy in her life gone.
And this is made only worse by the inactivity of her father. Angry he was, but did nothing about it.
How do you respond to the unrighteousness around you? Do you attempt to silence it? Ignore it? Sweep it under the rug? Pretend it’s no big deal? As a man are you a source of refuge, justice, care, compassion, nobility for those who have had justice denied them?
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Dec 12, 2024
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:02:29 min.
00:02:29 min.
Day by Day - 2 Samuel
Cutting Off Your Ears
When we give in to sin, we deafen our ears to God’s calls for repentance.
#daybydaylw
Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!
~~~
Upon Tamar’s pleading with Amnon not to do this vile act of abandoning his sister and leaving her destitute, we once again read, “But he, (Amnon,) would not listen to her.” And in further action, by calling in his servant and demanding that Tamar be kicked out and the door be bolted, Amnon was actually blaming Tamar for the incident.
Some of you are deaf this morning, and will not listen to the calls laid upon you to repent of your sin. You blame everyone else for your sin. You hate everyone else for the guilt you know is yours.
This is the main point of this passage—when you buy the lie of sin, when you give in, over and over to the deceitfulness of sin, you very well may be sacrificing the ability to hear the voice of God. You refuse to hear the voice of righteousness.
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Dec 11, 2024
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:02:45 min.
00:02:45 min.
Day by Day - 2 Samuel
A Wise Word From An Incredible Woman
The church has the responsibility to protect its women and treat them with respect.
#daybydaylw
Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!
~~~
After Amnon’s act of violation, the text tells us that he began to hate Tamar. Listen to the repetition in verse 15—“Then Amnon hated her with a very great hatred, so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her.”
How much did he hate her? He sought to blame her for the whole affair. He called in a servant and demanded that he kick Tamar out and lock the door so that she could not enter again. He was trying to arrange the scenario so that it looked like she was the guilty one of the reprehensible conduct, where in reality she had only acted in innocence and love. He calls upon his servant and literally says, “Put this out of my presence.” He has full blown objectified Tamar. She is no longer a woman, no longer a human. Just a piece of flesh for his own personal use to be disposed of.
Tamar knew this was what he was attempting to do, and she pleads with him, “If you go through with this, this would be a greater pain against me than what you just did. You cannot do this!”
Not a man, one, in this passage so far, has had one bit of care. We will see later that David is angered, but he does nothing.
The man who was once skillful and a warrior, is turning into the shadow of the man he once was. He sends his daughter into the wolf's den, and does nothing to slay the wolf and protect the sheep.
“There is so much, unseen or brushed under the rug when it comes to mistreating women. The world wants to say that they handle it, but then they abuse and objectify women in the worst of ways. There are so many hurting women who do not know where to turn for truth and healing because they have been overlooked, or sin against them has refused to be handled. Just another reason why men, especially men of the church, should understand the vulnerability of women and the role God has called them to. They need protectors. Defenders, from this type of nonsense.” (Kristi Johnson)
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Dec 10, 2024
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:03:24 min.
00:03:24 min.
Day By Day Expressions
Day By Day Expressions
When artists create a work, they are attempting to evoke a response or feeling.
#daybydaylw
Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Dec 09, 2024
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:06:08 min.
00:06:08 min.
Day by Day - 2 Samuel
Death-Inducing Actions
If we do not stop ourselves from sinning, it will grow out of control.
#daybydaylw
Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org.
~~~
Ecclesiastes 7:5 “It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools.”
And this is exactly what we have before us in 2 Samuel 13:3-6…a song of a fool, albeit a crafty, wise, skillful fool.
And so the wise fool named Jonadab suggested to Amnon to pretend to be sick, and when your dad, King David, comes to your house to check on you, request that Tamar, that most righteous and virtuous of women, come and tend to you. Then you will have her all to yourself.
So this is exactly what Amnon did.
And notice how Tamar is described. She shows up and immediately gets to work. “She took dough, she kneaded it, made cakes, baked the cakes, emptied the pan.” Why describe all the actions of Tamar? Because the author is showing us how obedient, how quick to serve, how righteous Tamar is. She is simply trusting the word of her father, who should protect her. She is believing that her half-brother really needs to be tended to. And she jumps into action, wanting to care for her family.
And then, Amnon seizing upon his opportunity, sends everyone out but Tamar. He is feigning to be so sick that he can’t even bring his hand to his mouth, but requires someone else to do that for him. And only Tamar can fulfill that in his mind.
So he clears the room except for her. And this is where Amnon sinful desires lead him to sinful actions. James tells us 1:15 “Desire when it is conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” This is exactly what we are witnessing…the bringing forth of death by means of Amnon’s wicked desire.
Do not shun the word of God here. Hear it clearly. Take note of it. And deal with sinful desires before they birth death-inducing actions.
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Dec 06, 2024
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:03:49 min.
00:03:49 min.
Day by Day - 2 Samuel
The Song Of Fools
If we do not catch our wicked desires early, they will lead to sin.
#daybydaylw
Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org.
~~~
Ecclesiastes 7:5 “It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools.”
And this is exactly what we have before us in 2 Samuel 13:3-6…a song of a fool, albeit a crafty, wise, skillful fool.
And so the wise fool named Jonadab suggested to Amnon to pretend to be sick, and when your dad, King David, comes to your house to check on you, request that Tamar, that most righteous and virtuous of women, come and tend to you. Then you will have her all to yourself.
So this is exactly what Amnon did.
And notice how Tamar is described. She shows up and immediately gets to work. “She took dough, she kneaded it, made cakes, baked the cakes, emptied the pan.” Why describe all the actions of Tamar? Because the author is showing us how obedient, how quick to serve, how righteous Tamar is. She is simply trusting the word of her father, who should protect her. She is believing that her half-brother really needs to be tended to. And she jumps into action, wanting to care for her family.
And then, Amnon seizing upon his opportunity, sends everyone out but Tamar. He is feigning to be so sick that he can’t even bring his hand to his mouth, but requires someone else to do that for him. And only Tamar can fulfill that in his mind.
So he clears the room except for her. And this is where Amnon sinful desires lead him to sinful actions. James tells us 1:15 “Desire when it is conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” This is exactly what we are witnessing…the bringing forth of death by means of Amnon’s wicked desire.
Do not shun the word of God here. Hear it clearly. Take note of it. And deal with sinful desires before they birth death-inducing actions.
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Dec 05, 2024
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:02:46 min.
00:02:46 min.
Day by Day - 2 Samuel
Sin Wears A False Nametag
We easily mislabel sin because we do not want to admit that what we are doing is wrong.
#daybydaylw
Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org.
~~~
Sin doesn’t come to us with the name tag of sin, but wearing some other name. We see it for what it is right now on this page of scripture, but how easily do we excuse sin in our own lives, and others’ sin by using false labels. How often do we excuse young men of their laxness by calling it adolescence? How often do we excuse a young man’s mischievousness by saying, “Boys will be boys,”? How often do we excuse someone’s greed and stinginess by calling it prudent and thrifty? How often do we try to lessen adultery by saying, “I fell in love,”?
You see what I mean? We easily mislabel sin because we do not want to see what we are doing as sin, and therein lies the lie, the treachery, the deceitfulness.
This is why it is important the counsel we keep, and we guard from whom we take advice. Jonadab noticed Amnon’s misery, and lept at the chance to get some type of advantage, some leverage, some favor in his pocket to cash in at a later point in time. Be careful of the ones who tell you what you already want to hear, who mislabel sin for you, who are unwilling to lay before the full effects that your sin will cause.
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Dec 04, 2024
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:02:10 min.
00:02:10 min.
Day by Day - 2 Samuel
The Promise Of Sin
Sin bears the promise of some gift to benefit us, but it can never deliver.
#daybydaylw
Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org.
~~~
Not only does sin come to us in degrees, but also bearing some promise of a gift. Sin comes to our minds offering some sort of prize, or reward, and we help it along with our own justifications, convincing ourselves that this slight action will actually work out for us and those around us for the better. I would be a better man, a more congenial women, a better student, a happier mom or dad, a more productive worker if I only did ___________________, and after all who wouldn’t want me to be a better husband, wife, mom, dad, student, or worker? We commit the sin thinking that the end justifies the means; we walk into sin for the sake of the good we believe it will bring with it, when in reality, all of those justifications are convenient cloaks of our own selfishness.
The Bible is so relevant to us today because we struggle with the same issues that these men and women struggled with. But we are to learn from them, avoid the traps, and run to the true King for help and deliverance. That is why we have the Bible!
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Dec 03, 2024
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:01:48 min.
00:01:48 min.
Day By Day Expressions
Day By Day Expressions
Music is a universal language that can often convey what words cannot.
#daybydaylw
Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org.
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Dec 02, 2024
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:06:02 min.
00:06:02 min.
Day by Day - 2 Samuel
Sin Doesn’t Wave The Jolly Roger
Sin comes to us in degrees, never revealing its full scope until it is too late.
#daybydaylw
Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!
~~~
In 2 Samuel 13, we read “Now Absalom, David’s son, had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar. And after a time Amnon, David’s son, loved her. Initially we may be struck with sympathy by Amnon’s having been struck, perhaps, by Cupid’s arrow. But this is not love. This is sexual appetite. The word used for “love” in this verse is a flexible word. It can mean all types of different types of love—the love of family, the love of foods etc—and one of them is the desire/love for another sexually. This is not some-one who is love-sick, as we will soon find out. This is someone who lust-sick, set on hunting down Tamar like she is some type of prey.
And what Amnon is facing and wrestling with is the deceitfulness of this lust. The lust that is consuming Amnon’s mind is promising him that to have Tamar would cure him, relieve him, satisfy him, heal him, bring joy into his life like never before, IF only he could have her in HIS way.
Sin can be easy to identify and easy to avoid when it comes waving the flag of its true colors, like the crossed swords and skull of the of the Black Pearl. But sin does not come to us in that way, does it? It comes dressed in different clothes, waving a different flag.
One of the reasons sin is so treacherous lies in the fact that sin comes to us in degrees, not ever revealing the full scope it seeks to take us, or of the destruction it will cause. No doubt Amnon’s sin did not start out in full blown lust that caused him to be bound up in a sort of dire straits. Rather, it started small, with improper thoughts, and fed the fire that does not need to be easily stoked in young men. This is why the text says, “And after a time…”
That’s an interesting phrase isn’t it. It should make us think, “What seemingly insignificant sin or sinful frame of mind am I allowing to linger on?” Don’t let it be said of you, “And after a time sin was full blown.”
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Nov 29, 2024
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:02:53 min.
00:02:53 min.
Day by Day - 2 Samuel
God’s Word Is Faithful, Both Ways
God is faithful to forgive us, but He is also faithful to judge sin accordingly.
#daybydaylw
Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!
~~~
When it comes to the faithfulness of God to His word, we normally only think of it in terms that directly benefit us. “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
We rarely apply the truth of God’s faithfulness to His word to when God’s word is a pronouncement against us. “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his flesh will from the flesh reap corruption.”
Somehow we have missed, or downplayed, that God is faithful to His word in this aspect. Perhaps it is because we do not have the right understanding of grace. We have been told that God has storehouses of grace ready to heap upon His children, but just because God is a God of generous grace does not mean He will not be faithful to His word. When you presume upon grace, you taint grace.
So that is what is before—the faithfulness of God to his word to discipline David. Do not treat lightly the warnings of God, for he will be just as faithful to them as the promises of blessings.
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Nov 28, 2024
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:01:45 min.
00:01:45 min.
Day by Day - 2 Samuel
The Ripple Effects
Recognizing the consequences of sin should lead us to put it to death in our own lives.
#daybydaylw
Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!
~~~
As Alistair Begg has said, “Once you throw a stone into water, you can retrieve the stone, but you cannot stop the ripple effect of the stone.” So it is with consequences. Those ripple effects began in chapter 12 and carry on all the way to chapter 20.
When Nathan confronted David, and spoke the words of God, Nathan told David, “Now, therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife. Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house.”
This is one of the ripples. What we are seeing in the next 7 chapters of 2 Samuel is the fulfillment of that word. God is faithful to His word.
I don’t think any of us are shocked that turmoil, lack of trust, conflict arises because of David’s particular sin. But we need to recognize at this point what God has said. He doesn’t say tough times will come. He doesn’t say it will be slightly more difficult, but you can make it. He says the “sword shall never depart from your house.” The sword represents war, immense, sharp pain, conflict and betrayal. This is what awaits David and his house, and it will come from within his own house.
These are the severe consequences that David must face due to his sin, and it should serve as a warning to us to put our own sin to death by means of the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives.
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Nov 27, 2024
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:02:07 min.
00:02:07 min.
Day by Day - 2 Samuel
Real People, Real Tragedy
The Bible provides us a look at both the grim reality of life and the hope provided in Jesus.
#daybydaylw
Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!
~~~
This morning we turn the page from 2 Samuel 12 to chapter 13, and we might hope that we are also turning the page from a miserable time in the life of David, Bathsheba, and the nation of Israel, to a time of rejoicing, but we are not. As hard as it may be to imagine, the situation in the life of David and Israel gets even worse.
And this is the benefit and the struggle of preaching through books of the Bible. We are forced to deal with the text of scripture as it comes to us, week after week, just like the author designed. We must not cherry pick the Bible, only looking at and studying the parts of history, or the poetry, or the instructions that bring smiles to our faces. Our life is not made up that way. And you may think, “You are right Clif, and that is why we need to get relief when we come here. So give feed us something that is a bit more tolerable and palatable, something warm and super encouraging. Our lives are difficult enough. No sense in coming in here to hear about more misery.”
But that is just it, you see?! This is what makes the Bible the best of all books. God, as He speaks through this word, does not hide the misery. He does not hide the ugly parts of life, the difficult, the dirty. Instead, our God wants our joy to be so full, and so rock-solid landed on Him, that he gives us the truth of living life in this world of sin, BUT also the hope we can have in His redeeming grace. So it’s not just ugly and hard realities of life that we see here, but also the ultimate Hope in life that He provides.
So yes, this morning we deal with the ugly. And I need to warn you, it is ugly, and cruel, and brutal. I get no enjoyment from this, and neither should you. This is not a passage that we should look at and from which get some strange sense of entertainment, but rather, our eyes are being forced to the page, to see through our tears, the harshness of sin, and that sin cares for nothing else than your destruction. Let me remind you once again, these were real people, real emotions, real events, real heartbreak. This is not like Grimm’s fairy tales, an exaggerated story to teach us a moral lesson. This was real. And in the midst of this episode of tragedy, we are to see triumph in the whole of the story through Jesus’ victory and atonement of the believer’s sin.
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Nov 26, 2024
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:03:13 min.
00:03:13 min.
Day by Day - 2 Samuel
Day By Day Expressions
Creativity is an opportunity to express the identity that God has impressed upon us.Creativity is an opportunity to express the identity that God has impressed upon us.
#daybydaylw
Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Nov 25, 2024
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:04:14 min.
00:04:14 min.
Day by Day - 2 Samuel
O My Soul, Put Your Hope In God
When God disciplines us, He continues His sanctifying work upon us.
#daybydaylw
Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!
~~~
Sometimes we have to preach to ourselves. The message sounds too good to be true—that the God of all the universe would look upon worms like us, redeem us, wash us, cleanse, and then when we continually sully ourselves, he still lovingly disciplines us, and continues his sanctifying work upon us. We wouldn’t do that for others. And yet he does it for us. And it is so foreign to us, that we have to preach it to ourselves to remind our souls of this reality.
And sometimes the best way to remember a great sermon is to sing it. So I want to put you on to a new song taken from Psalm 42.
For so long I've pled and prayed
God, come to my rescue
Even so the thorn remains
Still my heart will praise You
Storms within my troubled soul
Questions without answers
On my faith these billows roll
God, be now my shelter
Why are you cast down, my soul?
Hope in Him who saves you
When the fires have all grown cold
Cause this heart to praise You (oh, my soul)
By: Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
(Lifeword)
Aired on
Nov 22, 2024
Show
Day by Day
Duration
00:02:20 min.
00:02:20 min.
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