Sermon Tone Analysis

Intro: We’re back in the book of 2 Samuel and we’re journeying through the life of David…and last week we saw a war break out between David’s men and Israel’s army led by Absalom

David, though engaged in a war in with his son, gave a command to his 3 general’s Joab, Abishai, Ittai he said “Deal gently with the young man Absalom”

Joab responded by putting 3 javelins in his heart and his boys go off on him...

Theme: So Absalom is dead and the rest of this passage is about the messengers bringing the message to David

Thematic Statement: “The accuracy of the message will determine the value of the messenger”

FCF: This makes me think about the day and age we live in and how accuracy is not always the chief goal of the messenger, it’s about style, and passion, and delivery…which are all good things, but if the message is inaccurate…the messenger has failed

Denzel Washington said this speaking to the media about the media and the age we live in

Denzel Washington said this speaking to the media about the media and the age we live in

Denzel Washington said this speaking to the media about the media and the age we live in

Denzel Washington in speaking to the media

“The long term effect of living in a time we’re we are flooded with so much information, is that for people who in that business it’s more important to be first than to be accurate…so what a responsibility you all have, to tell the truth and not just be first.

but it seems right now that the goal of the media is be first irregardless of who it hurts, irregardless of wether it’s accurate or note…just be first.

and here’s the problem, whatever you practice long enough you’ll get good at, wether it’s telling the truth, are being first to tell a lie”

“The long term effect of living in a time we’re we are flooded with so much information, is that for people in that business it’s more important to be first than to be truthful…so what a responsibility you all have, to tell the truth and not just be first.

but it seems right now that the goal of the media is be first irregardless of who it hurts, irregardless of wether it’s accurate or note…just be first.

and here’s the problem, whatever you practice long enough you’ll get good at, wether it’s telling the truth, are being first to tell a lie”

Now, even though it’s not about being first for us, there are other things that value above the accuracy of the massage

(Prop) So today as we look at this passage, we’re gonna see whats most important about when it comes to being a messenger...

Outline:

We’re gonna look at the messengers V.19-32

We’re gonna see David’s response to the message V.33

The Messengers V.19-32

So what we’re gonna do is read this whole section then we’re gonna come back look at the 2 messengers mentioned here…and specifically Ahimaaz

2 sam 18:19-

Here we meet out 2 messengers...

First we have Ahimaaz - he was the son of one of the 2 priests of Israel, men who were also sympathizers with David…now we don’t know that much about him, but what we do know is that He’s a runner....when Hushai defeated the counsel of Ahithophel and delayed the attack of Absalom, It was Ahimaaz that was given the responsibility of relaying the message to David at the Jordan

That was no small feat considering that the Jordan river is about 3 days walk from Jerusalem…so one of the things we know about Ahimaaz is that he was physically fit

He had a great desire to carry the news to David

The 2nd messenger is a man called the Cushite - We don’t know much about him, all we know is that he is a “Cushite” which means he was a Egyptian follower of David who came from the region north of the Nile River

He was possibly a servant of Joab’s

Now obveously Joab felt far more comfortable having this guy go to deliver the news to David because He valued the Life of Ahimaaz

David had a habit of not taking the deaths of his enemies well

You remember the Amelikite who told David he killed Saul () David had him executed

You remember when those 2 guys (Banaah and Rechab) went and killed Saul’s son in (2 sam 4) David had them executed...

So this Risky

Joab though Ahimaaz to be too Valuable to David being a loyal servant and an upcoming priest

But the Cushite…whatever

But

But we are gonna see both of these men end up delivering the message…and we’re actually gonna Focus of Ahimaaz for a little while

2 sam 18-22-30

So here’s the glaring observation here....Ahimaaz had a lot of things going for him delivery (Which we’re gonna look at in a sec) but the message he delivered was inaccurate…and therefore he was not a good messenger...

But we see some things about him that were impressive...

He was an “eager” Messenger

and then even after Joab tried to Discourage him, Ahimaaz still persisted...

and then even after Joab tried to Discourage him, Ahimaaz still persisted...

2 Sam

So one thing that we see about Ahimaaz is a willingness to be a messenger, he knew that his message was important, and his audience was important and he willing travel though the forrest of Ephraim which was obveously a dangerous place to get that message to the king…but remember he gave the wrong message

His passion and eagerness is something to be commended

In fact we need more eager and passionate teachers and preachers today

But...It’s important to remember that you can be eager…and still be wrong

It’s important to remember that you can be eager…and still be wrong

Illustration: There are churches that love getting worked up into a frenzy....There are a lot of churches out there who started earlier then us, and will finish later then us…but they still haven’t said anything

This reminds me of what Paul’s me about what Paul of his fellow countrymen who had commited themselves to their works based relationship with God

Here’s the point: Willingness and passion are good, but it’s not enough....you better know the truth

Application: In that same way, do you know that Jesus has made us his messengers…and willingness is important

Application: In that same way, do you know that Jesus has made us his messengers

2 cor 5:2

and then even after Joab tried to Discourage him, ahimaaz

An Ambassador is essentally a messenger who comes and speaks on behalf of the king, they communicate the kings heart to people who need to hear it.

This is us…and this is our message...

Sin is real

Sin separates you from God

But God loves you and made a way through Jesus for you to be reconciled to him

Here’s the point: The position is yours…the Message is there…the need is there....but are you willing to deliver it?

Thats one thing about Ahimaaz…he was willing…here’s the next thing

He was a “skilled” Messenger

2 sam

Now, we already assume that Ahimaaz was physically fit…but you notice that he was also, very skilled…this Cushite possibly because he was a foreigner look the long route, but Ahimaaz, took the “way of the plan” and he out ran the Cushite…

2 sam 1

Now, we already assume that Ahimaaz was physically fit…but you notice that he was also, very cunning…this Cushite possibly because he was a foreigner look the long route, but Ahimaaz, took the “way of the plan” and he out ran the Cushite…

You might say that he was skilled in his delivery of the message…but remember he had an inaccurate message

This is big in the church culture we live in...

Did you know - That there were preachers this week who spent more time figuring catchy phrases, illustrations and trying to make all their points start with a P…then they did prayerfully digging into scripture making sure their it correctly

And you do you know why they did that?

Because thats what you want...

Illustration: We’re often more about the craft of preaching then the contents of whats begin preached

Thats how we pick our favorites...

This guys funny

This guys fiery

This guys looks really cool

The Corinthians were like this...

Rhetoric was a big deal

but remember what Paul said to them

Here’s the point: If your going to a church, it doesn’t matter, cool, funny, relevant, the teacher is…if their not teaching that right message leave as fast as you can

With that said - If you are a teacher…it’s not a bad thing to want master both content and craft...

Here’s another thing we see about Ahimaaz...

He was a “well liked” Messenger

So we notice that David is seated “between the 2 gates” v.24 what does that mean?

well in most cities in those the days, you would a security gate that would be parallel to the city this would be where the guards and watchmen would be, and then you go through those gates and then take a sharp left into the main gates of city which would be where the court house and all of that was…the reason they were set up like this was because if an enemies had a chariots, they might blast through the first gate, but than would be able to make the sharp turn left…and could be taken out…

2 sam 18:24

2 sam 18:24-

So we notice that David is seated “between the 2 gates” v.24 what does that mean?

well in most cities in those the days, you would a security gate that would be parallel to the city this would be where the guards and watchmen would be, and then you go through those gates and then take a sharp left into the main gates of city which would be where the court house and all of that was…the reason they were set up like this was because if an enemies had a chariots, they might blast through the first gate, but than would be able to make the sharp turn left…and could be taken out…

So we notice that David is seated “between the 2 gates” v.24 what does that mean?

well in most cities in those the days, you would a security gate that would be parallel to the city this would be where the guards and watchmen would be, and then you go through those gates and then take a sharp left into the main gates of city which would be where the court house and all of that was…the reason they were set up like this was because if an enemies had a chariots, they might blast through the first gate, but than would be able to make the sharp turn left…and could be taken out…

David finds himself in the city, waiting for news from the battle (because remember he got asked to stay behind) and the watchmen sees these 2 men running towards the now, it doesn’t say he notices the 2nd one…but he sure does notice the first one

2 sam

2 sam 18:25-

2 sam 18:25-

So it turns out that according to v.27 Ahimaaz had a pretty distinct way of running…and the watchmen said “theres a guy coming, and he’s running like Ahimaaz” and the first thing that says is “He’s a good…and he’s gonna bring a good message”