Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

593 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Sa 18:19 Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, "Let me run now and take the news to the king, how the LORD has avenged him of his enemies." 20 And Joab said to him, "You shall not take the news this day, for you shall take the news another day. But today you shall take no news, because the king's son is dead." 21 Then Joab said to the Cushite, "Go, tell the king what you have seen." So the Cushite bowed himself to Joab and ran. 22 And Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said again to Joab, "But whatever happens, please let me also run after the Cushite." So Joab said, "Why will you run, my son, since you have no news ready?" 23 "But whatever happens," he said, "let me run." So he said to him, "Run." Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain, and outran the Cushite. The trumpet has sounded, the rebellion is over. Absalom is dead. Someone has to take this news to David. Ahimaaz, the son of the priest Zadok, who has a good reputation as a runner volunteers to bring the news to David. But Joab is concerned about how David will take the news of the death of his son and decides to send the Cushite. But Ahimaaz is persistent and Joab allows him to run to David as well. This race between Ahimaaz and the Cushite has got the hand of God's providence all over it. God has arranged for Ahimaaz to get there first and the first thing he says to David is “All is well, blessed be the Lord thy God.” Why is this important? Because Ahimaaz puts the focus on the blessedness of God in this situation. This is a helpful reminder for all of us as we live out our lives in this vale of tears. Bad news comes to us in all sorts of different ways, and we need to be reminded that God is still in control and He is still blessed. It is as Job said after he received the news that he had lost everything including his children, Job 1:21, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD." Yes beloved bad news arrives, and when it does, may God send messengers who turn our focus on Him. Let our souls sing: “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace.” God send comfort and perspective to those who need it today.