Friday 22nd November
Read 2 Samuel 18:19-23
“Now Ahimaaz son of Zadok said, ‘Let me run and take the news to the king that the Lord has vindicated him by delivering him from the hand of his enemies.’ 20 ‘You are not the one to take the news today,’ Joab told him. ‘You may take the news another time, but you must not do so today, because the king’s son is dead.’ 21 Then Joab said to a Cushite, ‘Go, tell the king what you have seen.’ The Cushite bowed down before Joab and ran off.
22 Ahimaaz son of Zadok again said to Joab, ‘Come what may, please let me run behind the Cushite.’ But Joab replied, ‘My son, why do you want to go? You don’t have any news that will bring you a reward.’ 23 He said, ‘Come what may, I want to run.’ So Joab said, ‘Run!’ Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain and outran the Cushite.” (NIVUK)
Ahimaaz’s eagerness is infectious and ultimately irrepressible. He only perceives good news in the events that have occurred. He who would usurp the Lord’s anointed has been defeated and destroyed and he longs to bring this good news to the king.
Joab is far more circumspect. He knows by firsthand experience what happens to messengers who think they are bringing good news of this kind to David – so he sends a dispensable foreigner! But the dependable foreigner runs over the hills at a steady pace and the irrepressible Ahimaaz runs via the plain, not running ‘behind the Cushite’ at all. The reader is aware by this stage that Ahimaaz is in a risky position now. What will happen when he arrives?
Is there a good way to deliver ‘good news’? The origins of the word ‘gospel’, literally ‘good news’ lie in this phrase. But the good news Ahimaaz is about to deliver is news of justice delivered. David longs for different news – news guided by his love for his son. The ‘good news’ we deliver to others has both love and justice, but Ahimaaz’s news only has one of these.
