Ahimaaz was a fast runner. He had practiced and practiced because he wanted to be a messenger for the king. Finally a chance came. Absalom, the son of David, had been killed. Surely, this was a message worthy for him to take to the king. But Joab said no and sent another man. Joab understood that this would be a horrible message for the king to receive and it would be the end of the career of any messenger. However, Ahimaaz was persistent. Joab said, “Why will you run, my son, since you have no news ready?” But Ahimaaz answered, “but whatever happens, let me run.” So Joab relented and let him go.

Ahimaaz was not only fast, he knew the shortcuts and he beat the other runner. But now what was he to do? He wasn’t allowed to give the king the news since it was the position of the true messenger. So he did all he knew. He said, “All is well! Blessed by the Lord your God, who has delivered up the men who raised their hand against my lord the king!” That sounded good and official. Surely that would satisfy the king. But no, David was quick to ask specifically about his son. Now, because Ahimaaz ran without the authority of the true message could only lie and say he didn’t know. And the king told him to move over and stand out of the way until the true messenger arrived. (2 Samuel 18)

How often do we hear a word spoken by someone else and we want to go tell everyone. But if we do not have the authority behind the message, it falls flat. When the appointed messenger arrived, he spoke almost the same words that Ahimaaz had first spoken, however when David asked about Absalom, the man had the authority to tell him that Absalom had been killed. David still received the message with sorrow and mourning, but the message was delivered.

Ahimaaz was a young man who wanted to run even without a message to deliver. Joel 2:28 says: And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions.

We need to wait on Holy Spirit to give us the message. But once He has given it to us, what are we suppose to do with it? Habakkuk 2:2 answers this: Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it.

Now the messenger has the obligation to read it before he runs. Paul encourages Timothy to “Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

If you are going to run, run with a message.