1. Let Me Run 2 Sam. 18:19-23 1

2. Background Absalom’s rebellion Absalom caught under the giant oak tree Joab stabs Absalom and he dies suspended under the tree 2

3. Ahimaaz He wants to take the news of victory to David Joab did not want him to go because it was bad news 3

4. Joab commands a Cushite (a man from Ethiopia) to take the news Ahimaaz wanted to follow the Cushite and was allowed to do so Ahimaaz beat the Cushite – he gently broke the news to David but did not tell all – the Cushite finished the story 4

5. David laments greatly over the death of Absalom and is rebuked by Joab There are many lessons in this account but we want to focus on Ahimaaz and what he did 5

6. I. Ahimaaz was loyal Absalom stole the hearts of the people, but not the heart of Ahimaaz (2 Sam. 15:6) Ahimaaz was the son of a priest but he did not follow the crowd He remained loyal to the king 6

7. He was loyal in battle He wanted the hard job of bearing the news to David How would David react to the news? 7

8. II. Ahimaaz was motivated by love for the king Love moved him to tell the good news 2 Sam. 18: 28 “Blessed be the Lord thy God…” He left the bad news for another to tell – but he prepared the king to receive it 8

9. Jn. 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 9

10. 1 Jn. 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 10

11. Love makes service a joy Our labor is a sign of our love and demonstrates the quality of our love (attendance, giving, study, prayer, personal evanglism, godly living etc. ) 11

12. III. Ahimaaz was good 2 Sam. 18:27 “… and the king said, He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings” 12

13. David recognized his good character According to the custom of the day a good man would bring only good news 13

14. Sometimes a good man must bring bad news Noah Jonah 14

15. Most things are a combination of good news and bad news The world is lost, but Jesus came to bring salvation We must leave this world, but Jesus has a better place for us 15

16. IV. Ahimaaz was enthusiastic “Let me now run” Many today are filled with that which is wrong or unimportant Ahimaaz wanted to run with the good news of victory LET THIS BE OUR ATTITUDE! 16

17. Rom. 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17

18. 1 Pet. 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 18

19. Mt. 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light 19

20. Ps. 122:1 I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD. 20

21. Let us run with the work of the church There is something you can do! “The total accomplished in the church is the sum of the accomplishments of each individual in the church.” W. T. Hamilton 21

22. Let Christians run to the work ! It is also time for sinners to decide to run --- to run to Jesus! 22

23. References Adapted from material by W. T. Hamilton, Truth for Today, 2004. 23