2 Samuel 18:24
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. 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 sat between the two gates waiting for news of the battle while the watchman went up to the roof over the gate to the wall and saw a lone runner approaching with a report. It belongs to the war between David's forces and Absalom's forces in which Absalom lost his life, when important tidings were carried by runners. Ahimaaz ran eagerly and outran Cushi, yet he had heard only a tumult without knowing what it meant and had no answer about Absalom, so David told him to stand aside, while Cushi waited until he received his tidings and then delivered thoughtfully the news of victory and of Absalom's death. Swiftness and zeal alone do not make a messenger useful, for running is worthwhile only when the runner has a definite message ready, having first learned by experience and tarried for power before going. The report brought David overwhelming grief over his wicked son, showing that sin may be pardoned yet set in motion harm that continues for years, and that a father's anxiety comes too late when parental duty has been neglected.
Setting and Historical Context
David sat between the two gates waiting for news while the watchman went up to the roof over the gate to the wall, lifted his eyes and looked out, and saw a man running alone approaching with a report. The sight of the lone runner establishes the setting for the report that follows and introduces the runners bringing news from the battle. It belongs to the account of the battle between Absalom's forces and King David's forces in which Absalom lost his life. It is part of the detailed history of David's reign recounting Absalom's rebellion and death, followed by David's lament and return to Jerusalem.
In that time important messages were carried by running men, since there were no telephones or telegraphs. The surrounding history is the sorrows and family troubles that followed David's wrong against Uriah, presented as retribution for David's sin. The troubles in David's family in 2 Samuel 13 to 20 grew out of David multiplying wives to himself, producing a large family of children by different wives where idleness, luxury, and jealousy developed unenviable characters.
Those troubles revolved around the beautiful Absalom, a shrewd and handsome prince whose ambition was roused by fulsome flattery poured upon him. They included Absalom's base conduct, Ahithophel's treachery, Shimei's cursing, the fear and flight of the king and his pathetic journey touching the hearts of old friends, the defeat of Absalom, and David's sorrow over his wicked son's fate. Through it all David's kindness to the house of Saul remains in evidence.
Messengers Need a Message
Joab judged Ahimaaz unfit to carry the tidings and sent Cushi instead, yet Ahimaaz insisted on running and by swiftness outran Cushi to reach David first. The lone runner seen from the wall introduces these two messengers coming from the battle, the first arriving ahead without a charge and the second coming behind with the charge entrusted to him. Ahimaaz greatly outran Cushi even though he had been held back as unfit for the errand.
Ahimaaz ran eagerly but had no real message, for he had only heard a great tumult without knowing what it meant. He could not explain what had happened when he arrived and did not know what to say. He had no answer to the question David most wanted answered about Absalom, and could give only excitement where truth was needed. David therefore told him to stand aside. What he did bring was news of the victory, while the news of Absalom's death was withheld.
Cushi, by contrast, waited until he received his tidings, then bowed and ran to deliver them. He delivered the news thoughtfully and tactfully, carrying the specific report of Absalom's defeat and death. That definite message mightily stirred the mourning David. The difference between the runners was that one had his tidings ready and the other did not.
Zeal, eagerness, and swiftness alone do not make a messenger ready or useful, for speed alone does not make a messenger useful. Swiftness alone is worthless, and running was worthwhile only when the runner had a definite message. Running is worthwhile only when the runner has received a message before running to deliver it and carries a definite message to give. Witnesses for Jesus must therefore get ready before they start, learn what He says and become well acquainted with Him, so they can tell only what they themselves know by experience. Running in God's work is useful only after first tarrying in secret with Jesus for power, talking to God for the people before talking to the people for God, and then running with patience with a clear message, starting right and starting at once, able both to go where God wants and to stay where God wants.
Grief and Parental Warning
David sat anxiously between the gates waiting for news of the battle while the watchman on the roof saw a lone runner approaching, and the question whether Absalom is safe comes later in the same account. The report of Absalom's defeat and death mightily stirred David and led to overwhelming grief, ending with the wail of a broken-hearted father over the death of his wicked son. Absalom had already been unsafe for years, when he was indulged, left to his passions, denied his father's care, and exposed to temptation without protection, so the father's anxious question about his safety came too late. David still suffered the consequences of his great sin even after his enemies were scattered and his throne was restored, and his sorrow brought home to him the harm his bad example had done to his children, for sin may be pardoned yet its effects can set in motion a chain of harm that continues for years.
No one can walk contrary to God's laws without suffering, because in every transgression of divine law lies the inherent curse even when God does not openly reprove and seems to wink at blindness. Absalom's self-centered plans end in ruin, and a father's anxiety cannot undo neglected parental duty. David's sorrow is deep because he recognizes his own sin in the circumstances of Absalom's death, and parental tenderness can blind a person to kingly obligations. Beauty, popularity, gifts, and abilities cannot make up for a lack of character or prevent lasting disgrace.
Read aloud and prayed over at family worship in a Christian home, this story of Absalom's defeat and death and David's grief brings convicting power that converts sinners and brings them to the altar of the church.