Lesser known characters :: Ahimaaz

Ahimaaz was the son of Zadok the high priest who served in the time of David. When Absalom, king David’s own son rebels and revolts against his father, David’s counselor Ahithophel, switches sides and counsels Absalom on a strategy to kill king David. Absalom wants to get a second opinion on Ahithophel’s plan and consults with Hushai, the Archite, who was David’s friend.  Hushai, sends word about Ahithophel plan to kill king David, through the priests Zadok and Abiathar, who send this message with their children Ahimaaz (Zadok’s son) and Jonathan (Abiathar’s son) (2 Samuel 15:24-37). Ahimaaz was known to be a sprinter, fast on his feet, and along with Jonathan, Ahimaaz brings the warning message to king David (2 Samuel 17:15-22).

Ahimaaz, was not only known to bring a warning message. Later, when Absalom is killed by Joab, he asks Joab permission to take the victory message to king David, but Joab instead purposes to send a Cushite. The Cushite bows to Joab and then starts to run to deliver the message. Ahimaaz continues to persevere and asks Joab again, permission to be the messenger of the victory news. Joab questions Ahimaaz, why do you want to be the bearer of the news that will bring you no reward (since the victory was as a result of the death of the king’s son Absalom), but Ahimaaz replies, “Come what may, I want to run.” Let me run behind the Cushite.”  Joab agrees, and Ahimaaz starts to run (by the plain) and outruns the Cushite, becoming the first to be the bearer of the news of God’s vindication against the enemies of the Lord’s anointed, king David. (2 Samuel 18:19-33). David refers to Ahimaaz as a good man, who brings good tidings/news. (2 Samuel 18:27)

What can we learn from Ahimaaz?
We must be runners for God, running the race with our eyes fixed on the prize. We must adorn ourselves with the shoes fitted with readiness for that which comes from the gospel of peace, which is warning of the enemy’s attacks against God’s saints and the message of the victory against the vanquished foe, the devil, who rebelled against the Lord’s anointed, Jesus Christ. Irrespective of the outcome, come what may, we must want to run.

Can the King of kings and the Lord of lords, say of you and me, “He/she is a good person, who brings good tidings/news of mine to my people?”

2 Kings 18: 19-28 (KJV)
¹⁹ 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.
²⁰ 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.
²¹ Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.
²² 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?
²³ 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.
²⁴ 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.
²⁵ 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.
²⁶ 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.
²⁷ 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.
²⁸ 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.

Hebrews 12:1 (KJV)
¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Ephesians 6:14-15 (KJV)
¹⁴ Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
¹⁵ And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;