Behind the Headlines
Opening Prayer
Lord, may my loyalty be to You. May I be true to You in every situation and relationship.
Read 2 Samuel 18:19-33
[19] 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. [24] While David was sitting between the inner and outer gates, the watchman went up to the roof of the gateway by the wall. As he looked out, he saw a man running alone. [25] The watchman called out to the king and reported it. The king said, “If he is alone, he must have good news.” And the runner came closer and closer. [26] Then the watchman saw another runner, and he called down to the gatekeeper, “Look, another man running alone!” The king said, “He must be bringing good news, too.” [27] The watchman said, “It seems to me that the first one runs like Ahimaaz son of Zadok.” “He’s a good man,” the king said. “He comes with good news.” [28] Then Ahimaaz called out to the king, “All is well!” He bowed down before the king with his face to the ground and said, “Praise be to the LORD your God! He has delivered up those who lifted their hands against my lord the king.” [29] The king asked, “Is the young man Absalom safe?” Ahimaaz answered, “I saw great confusion just as Joab was about to send the king’s servant and me, your servant, but I don’t know what it was.” [30] The king said, “Stand aside and wait here.” So he stepped aside and stood there. [31] Then the Cushite arrived and said, “My lord the king, hear the good news! The LORD has vindicated you today by delivering you from the hand of all who rose up against you.” [32] The king asked the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom safe?” The Cushite replied, “May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rise up to harm you be like that young man.” [33] The king was shaken. He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went, he said: “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you-O Absalom, my son, my son!” Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
How is David's focus off?Messengers are running to the king with news from battle. History has been made this day. The politics of the country have shifted decisively. Yet, our interest is in the reaction of the king. The political situation, the legacy of history and the king’s dynastic security are all forgotten. Absalom, referred to by David in the build-up to the battle as “the young man” (5), is now “Absalom, my son, my son!” (33).The two runners are differentiated by one’s appreciation of this personal perspective and the other’s lack of it. Ahimaaz delivers the news of victory but withholds the confirmation of Absalom’s death. The anonymous Cushite messenger has no appreciation of David’s position as a father. His focus is solely on the military outcome. Throughout the narrative of David’s life, two truths are consistently illustrated. First, people in positions of power are no different than anyone else; second, it is often in their personal and private affairs that the destiny of public figures is decided. This section ends in suspense. How will David’s private grief play out in the public sphere?
Apply
Consider the private aspects of your life that may influence how you behave publicly. Talk to God about this.
Closing prayer
Lord, help those who lead Your church to rightly hold their private and public worlds before You.
Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.
© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.
Discovery is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.