Uriah the Hittite by Giulio Mari
2 Samuel 11
I would like to introduce the
reader to a man whose appearance on the pages of Scripture is brief but very significant
not only for his ruler, king David of old, but for the people of God today.
By virtue of his character Uriah
the Hittite speaks to us today because people know who we are not just by what
we say but, mostly and more significantly, by the actions and deeds we perform
as we walk in this world.
His persona is cast onto the
scene of Israel's history as recorded in the book of 2Samuel 11 and the record
related to his story extends to the end of chapter 12. Of note is the fact that
his name is mentioned by Matthew in the genealogy of Jesus instead of the name
of his wife — Bathsheba.
And it is the name Bathsheba who
is so well known by the student of God's word for the most memorable
transgression in king David's — yet glorious — life. Even the writer of 1Kings
marks that event with these words "[For] David did that which is right
in the eyes of the Lord, and did not turn aside from all that He commanded him
all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite."[i]
The Bible narrative seems to
point out the king's letdown in not going out to battle with his army. It
states that there was a time when kings went out and that David had sent his
army commander Joab but he had remained in Jerusalem. "And it happened at
evening time, David rose up from his bed and walked up and down on the roof of
the king's house" Getting up from bed in the evening? "And
[he saw] from the roof a woman bathing." A woman bathing in
possible view of others? All likely circumstances working together to entrap man
and woman in sin. Our Lord taught us to pray "Lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from evil"[ii]
None of us is immune from being lured into sin; may the Lord be
gracious to us in our personal lives.
David ended up committing
adultery with Bathsheba.
Placing aside the main reason for
the popularity of this incident I would like to turn the readers' attention to
the less known person of this triangular affair — Bathsheba's husband. Yes, it
is not David's moral failure that I would like to emphasise but Uriah's
uprightness. This man, counted among David's might men of valour[iii],
was not an Israelite by birth yet was faithful to the God of Israel as one born
as such.
Uriah had been on the battlefield
with Joab's army fighting around Rabbah a city of the Ammonites while, unbeknown
to him, his king had seduced his wife. Upon hearing the news of his mistress
having become pregnant David reasoned that if he could convince Uriah to come
back to his house and lie with his wife the whole incident would be just an
obscure event kept between the two of them and soon to be forgotten.
Being summoned by his king Uriah
came back to Jerusalem and after having been asked about the news on the
frontline he was told to go home and to wash his feet — a euphemism for having
a good time with his wife — I suppose. David even sent a gift after him. But
Uriah did not go home to his wife and David heard that.
Concerned about this strange
behaviour the king asked his soldier why he had spent the night with others at
the entrance of his palace. He even told him how everyone coming from a journey
would normally go to home and relax.
David then asked him
"Why have you not gone down to your house?" And right
there Uriah gave David his soul
piercing answer which even today rings true to the hearts
of those who love the Lord and are concerned for His people. Uriah said "The
ark and Israel, and Judah dwell in booths. And my lord Joab, and my lord's
servants are camping on the face of the field. And I, shall I go into my house
to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul
lives, I will not do this thing."
Oh that we might have this kind
of heart toward our brethren whether at home or abroad! Shouldn't these words
convict us to embrace those we do not see yet we know are labouring in the
trenches of this world of darkness?
Doesn't this remind us of One who
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped but humbled Himself?[iv]
Didn't Uriah, as Christ, have all the rights to grasp and enjoy what could have
been used for his pleasure? The apostle Paul exhorts us to have this mind in us
which was also in Christ Jesus and, in humility, to esteem others more than
ourselves looking after not just our own interests but also to the interests of
others.
Uriah's love for his fellow
warriors restrained him. And, as with him, can we have our good time today and
allow ourselves to live in luxury and enjoy the pleasures of this world while
there are brothers and sisters in Christ down our street and throughout the
world who, with enormous sacrifices, hold up the Word of Life to a perishing
world? I suggest that we should, as Uriah, refrain from our fleshly indulgences
for the sake of those who, in the Body of Christ, are fighting in the front
lines the good fight of faith while faced with incredible obstacles and
opposition — they need our help in every way possible.
We do have apparent reasons to
indulge in fun and relaxation. After all, we work hard at our jobs, we strive
to put bread on our table therefore we need to reward ourselves with some of
the pleasures this world has to offer. Isn't this the way of life of most of
our peers? Isn't this part of what we work for? We know that relaxation is not
wrong nor are the things that this world has to offer yet only the Holy Spirit
can bear witness to the conscience of the believer what is permissible in the
realm of personal pleasure.
Let not that believer assume that
all he can afford may be justifiable in the eyes of God. It is not for us to
set limits on somebody else's freedom of choice but let us all be aware that
God knows our hearts and He is aware of how we spend the time and the resources
He has entrusted us with. We may justify anything in our own mind, but is God
convinced?
The rest of Uriah's story
continues to speak as we read that for a second time, even after having been
caused to become drunk, he still did not go to his house but kept his conscience
pure to his values. He ended up paying with his life for the stand he took.
Someone might say that God's plan was for David's sin to be exposed. Yes that
is true, but it was Uriah's character and uprightness that God used to convict
David of his sin.
God always chooses the proper
vessel to fulfil His purposes.
Should our life be weighed on the
scale of this man's ethical strength how would we fare?
The Bible says that "Every
Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness so that the man of God may be
complete, fully furnished for every good work."[v]
Has the story of this man reproved, corrected or instructed you? Let us all be
made even more complete by what his life teaches us.
May the grace of God be the source
and reason for a new apprehension on how to walk in this world.
Notes and References
[i]
1Kings 15:5
[ii]
Luke 11:4
[iii]
2Samuel 23:39; 1Chronicle 11:41
[iv]
Philippians 2:4-8
[v]
2Timothy 3:16
(Scriptures
taken from the LITV [Literal Translation of the Holy Bible] by J.P.
Green,Sr.1995).
Being
aware of my limitations but desirous to
share, I submit this paper to my fellow believers in Christ.
None
of my work is ever complete, there is always something to add as the Lord
grants more light.
"For
in You is the fountain of life, in your light we see light." Ps.36:9 LITV
gtphoto@telus.net October 2015
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