2 Samuel 18:24

 2 Samuel 18;24 says, And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone.  David was not just going about his everyday life unconcerned, but he was sitting between the gates of the city awaiting news.  We need to be concerned about what is happening to God's people today and not just being unconcerned as long as we aren't directly involved.  Verse twenty-five adds, And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near.  David also had a watchmen on alert, who saw a runner coming.  We today still need watchmen to keep the forces of evil from sneaking up on us.  David said if the runner was alone that he was coming with news.  We as followers of Christ need to be like runners sharing the good news, the gospel of Christ, and not like someone running to destroy the lost people of the world.  Verse twenty-six continues, And the watchman saw another man running: and the watchman called unto the porter, and said, Behold another man running alone. And the king said, He also bringeth tidings.  The watchman then saw another man running and sent word to David, who said the second man also brought news.  Hopefully, as we are sharing the gospel today we will not be alone, but it should never be a competition as to who can share it first.  We as Christians need to work together to spread the gospel.   Verse twenty-seven states, And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings.  The watchman thought he recognized the runner who was ahead as Ahimaaz, and David said that he was a good man and came with good tidings.  We need to be known as good people when we go into the world to share the gospel so that people will be more likely to realize that we are only there to share good news with them.  Verse twenty-eight adds, And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, All is well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed be the LORD thy God, which hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king.  Ahimaaz called out to David and told him all was well, falling down on his face before continuing to tell David that all his enemies had been delivered to him.  There is coming a day when all of the enemies of God will be defeated and we as Christians will fall at His feet in worship.  Verse twenty-nine continues, And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king’s servant, and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was.  David asked if Absalom was safe, and Ahimaaz told him that before Joab sent him to David, he saw a great tumult but didn't know what it meant.  Matthew Henry says that Ahimaaz remembered Joab saying that the news of Absalom’s death might not be good news to David, so he left the fact of his death vague.  Even if people don't want to hear it, we today cannot be afraid to share the gospel simply because we are afraid of how it will be received.  Verse thirty says, And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.  David told Ahimaaz to turn aside and stand still, and he did.  Since Ahimaaz said he couldn't tell David if Absalom was safe or not, David had him wait until the next messenger got there. David may have assumed that the second messenger had left later and had more news.  If we faithfully share the gospel, God will never have to tell us to stand aside and wait, but if we withhold all the truth of the gospel, He may.  Verse thirty-one adds, And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee.  Cushi, though slower in getting there, also shared the news that David’s enemies had been defeated.  This was the same news that Ahimaaz had shared.  Verse thirty-two continues, And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is.  David asked Cushi about Absalom, and though he didn't answer directly, he said all those that rose against David were as Absalom was.  Both Cushi and Ahimaaz had been sent to tell David the news, even about the death of Absalom, and they both were reluctant to tell him the whole truth.  We can never be afraid to share the whole truth of the gospel, even if we don't know how it will be received.  Verse thirty-three continues, And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!   When David knew that Absalom was dead, he began to mourn his death and said that he wished that he had died in Absalom’s place.  Though we cannot die for the salvation of others, we serve a Savior who did, and we should mourn when anyone dies without accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, even if they have been our enemies.