2 Samuel 18:19

2 Samuel 18:19 says, Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the LORD hath avenged him of his enemies.  Ahimaaz asked for permission to run and bring the news of Absalom’s death to David,  thinking it would be good news to David.  There is always someone who wants to be the first to bring the news to others, whether it is actually good news or not.  Verse twenty adds, And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king’s son is dead.  Joab told Ahimaaz that he couldn't carry the news that day, because the king’s son was dead and it may have been that Ahimaaz seemed to eager to share the news of Absalom’s death.  Absalom might have been attempting to kill David, but he was still David’s son.  If we put our faith in Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, we will never stop being a child of God, even if sin again.  Verse twenty-one continues, Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.  Joab then told Cushi, an Ethiopian according to Matthew Henry,  to go and tell David what he had seen, and he left to do so.  We may be tasked to bring what is bad news even if others may see it as good news, but we should never be eager to do so.  Verse twenty-two states, Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready?  Once more, Ahimaaz asked Joab to allow him to run and share the news with David, but Joab asked him what news he could share since Cushi was already on his way to tell David.  It would be nice if we were as eager to share the gospel with people today as Ahimaaz, this young priest, was to share the news of the death of Absalom, David’s son, with him.  Of course, we should never share the gospel hoping for personal recognition.  Verse twenty-three adds, But howsoever, said he, let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi.  Ahimaaz still asked for permission to run to David, and Joab told him to run, even though he felt it would be useless to do so.  At times, we as Christians may believe that sharing the gospel in a particular place or at a particular time is not going to be of any use, but we should never attempt to stop anyone who is eager to do so from doing so.  Ahimaaz overtook Cushi, either because he was a much faster runner or he knew a shorter route.  We should never see the sharing of the gospel a a competition.