Gospel Reflections #1142: Are we mere messengers?

2 Samuel 18:23 ‘Ahimaaz took the low-lying route and overtook the Cushite.’

This scene depicts a psychological battle centred on the ‘dispatching of a messenger’ to report the outcome of the battle—Absalom’s death and victory—to King David, following the conclusion of the conflict with the rebel forces led by Absalom, son of King David.

King David’s army (led by General Joab) had defeated the forces of the rebellious Prince Absalom.

However, despite having been strictly ordered by King David to ‘treat the young Absalom with leniency (do not kill him)’, Joab brutally murdered Absalom with his own hands.

Although they had won the battle, it was clear that the news that ‘the king’s beloved son had died’ would be the ‘worst possible news’ for King David.

Joab (the general), a cold-blooded realist, did not wish to have the tragic news—which would deeply grieve David—delivered by one of the king’s favourite and most loyal servants.

Ahimaaz, the son of the priest Zadok and a young man loyal to David, was eager to be the first to bring the ‘good news’ of victory to the king.

The Cushite, a foreign foot soldier, had already been sent to David as the first messenger on Joab’s orders.

Anticipating King David’s intense distress and anger at Absalom’s death, Joab initially tried to dissuade Ahimaaz, saying, ‘You must not go today to deliver the news, for the king’s son is dead,’ in order to protect him.

However, Ahimaaz insisted, ‘Whatever may happen (whatever the outcome), I want to run,’ and would not yield.

Here we see the youthful ambition and enthusiasm of a young man who wanted to be the first to deliver the news of victory.

Overcome by Ahimaaz’s enthusiasm, Joab finally gave his permission, saying, ‘Go on, run.’

Although Joab had wished to prevent Ahimaaz from causing harm to the king, he respected the young man’s strong determination.

Ahimaaz overtook the Cushite, who had set out ahead of him, by taking the ‘lowland route’.

Whilst the Cushite was running along the usual route through mountainous and undulating terrain, Ahimaaz chose the lowland route through the Jordan Valley, which, although slightly longer, was flat and easier to run on.

Thanks to his knowledge of the terrain and his wise choice of route, Ahimaaz overtook the messenger ahead of him and arrived at David’s side first.

In biblical commentary, this episode is often cited as a passage that prompts reflection on ‘the disconnect between God’s will and human zeal’ and ‘the gravity of the message to be conveyed’.

Ahimaaz had only the superficial good news of ‘victory’ on his mind and failed to deeply grasp the core gravity of the situation—how deeply it would tear at King David’s heart (the death of Absalom).

Whilst running with zeal is a wonderful thing, this passage poses a lesson to the reader: ‘Are we merely messengers who deliver a message without understanding the essence of the matter or the pain of the other person?’

God is One who understands and cares for even our sorrow and pain.

May we seek His guidance so that we do not proceed solely on the basis of our own well-intentioned emotions, but rather pause and exercise the faith to entrust ourselves to Him.

AUTHOR'S BIO: This Gospel Reflections page is written by Masae San, who resides in Hiroshima, Japan. Masae is a dedicated student of the Bible with a deep passion for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She shares her daily reflections on Gospel perspectives to reach out to others and spread the message of God's true love through a Christ-centered approach. We are sharing her insights here so that you, too, can experience the joy that comes from knowing and understanding the true Gospel and the love of God through Jesus Christ.