RUNNING ON EMPTY

One of the more intriguing experiences (at least to me) in the life of King David occurs in 2 Samuel 18:19-32. David’s son Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel and tried to take the kingdom away from his father. David’s great general, Joab, went to war with the army that Absalom had raised up and when Absalom tried to run away, he was killed by Joab and his men. (18:7-14).

Joab and the other leaders had insisted that David not go out to the battle that day. Upon Absalom’s death, Joab wanted a runner to take the news to the king and just as he was preparing to select the runner, a young man, Ahimaaz, stepped up and said, “Let me run and take the news to the king.” But Joab said, “No, you can take the news another day,” and he selected an unnamed man, probably one of his servants, and sent him with the message.

Even after being told no, Ahimaaz kept pestering Joab. “Please, please let me run.” Joab asked, “Why do you want to run since you have no news?” Ahimaaz responded, “There doesn’t need to be a reason, I just want to run.” Joab replied, “Fine, then run!”

Ahimaaz was a better runner than the Cushite who was given the message by Joab. Ahimaaz passed the official runner and got to King David first and the king asked him if Absalom was safe (18:29). Ahimaaz replied, “I know there was a great fight but I don’t know what the outcome was.” David gently rebuked the boy and said, “You are in the way. Stand over there.” Then the appointed runner arrived and tactfully gave David the news that the battle had been won but his son Absalom was dead.

Why did Ahimaaz insist that he be allowed to run even though he had no message? We really do not know for sure. Perhaps it was the excitement and energy of the battle, or perhaps it was just because he loved to run. His running was confusing to David at a time when he really didn’t need any confusion.

There are at least two important truths to be learned from this intriguing story. The first is for all of us who have been “called” into service by the Lord.

God called me into His service when I was studying business in my first year at the University of British Columbia. I transferred to a Bible college in California, met Carol, and we married in 1965. In 1967 David Wilkerson asked us to come to New York and assist him in his crusade ministry, so for the next eight years I served as his Crusade Director and it was a journey that was nothing short of incredible.

After eight years with David Wilkerson, God said the most shocking thing to me: “Your time here is complete and I have other work for you to do.” If you don’t think I argued with the Lord, you’re wrong. Why would I want to leave? I didn’t have to leave, things were going better than well, but God’s word to me never changed: “Your time here is complete.” I met with Brother Dave one day and told him what I understood the Lord had said to me. I will never forget how he responded. He quietly looked at me and said, “David, look me in the eye and tell me this is God!” and I did. His response to me was, “What can I do to help?” He wanted to know that I had a definite “word” from the Lord—and I did.

Taking a step into any kind of ministry venture without a word from the Lord is dangerous. Taking a step into ministry based on “good intentions” is running on empty. A lot of very good ministry ventures end in failure because they were begun without a “word from the Lord,” without a clear sense of direction. We tend to blame the devil when the venture fails but the fact is that those who began the venture were running on empty and when opposition arose, they had no word, no promise to fall back on.

The second thing we learn from this incident is for all who call themselves a follower of Jesus. “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15, NIV). If someone asked you today the difference Jesus Christ has made in your life, could you explain to that person, simply and clearly? If you have to struggle to find an answer, it doesn’t mean you are unsaved, it just means you are running on empty. You need to take the time to reflect and pray and fill yourself with the “word of the Lord.”

When King David asked Ahimaaz a specific question, he could not give an answer because he didn’t have one and the king set him aside. Why did Ahimaaz run? We don’t know but one thing we do know is that he was running on empty and nothing satisfactory came out of that.