1. An eager messenger (19-23)

Ahimaaz begged Joab to take the news to the king, "that the LORD has vindicated him by delivering him from the hand of his enemies." The problem was that his message was only about justice and not love. Joab knew how David would respond to the news of Absalom's death, so he sent the Cushite instead. Ahimaaz persisted, though, and Joab eventually let him run as well. We must be impressed with Ahimaaz's enthusiasm. It is the type of zeal we should have in sharing the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ahimaaz had a message of justice, but Christians have a message of both justice and love.

2. David's broken heart (24-33)

Ahimaaz arrived first and delivered his message, but David seemed to care about only one thing: "Is the young man Absalom safe?" The Cushite, on the other hand, delivered the full news that Absalom was dead. David was shaken and overcome with grief. "My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you..." Only Jesus, the pure and holy Lamb of God, can do such a thing. He suffered and died on the cross in our place so that we could inherit eternal life. In Jesus, God's justice and love are completely fulfilled. Our debt of sin has been paid in full and we are free to live.