Uriah - Warrior Elite

What does it say? (2 Sam 11:1-27)

Share about why Uriah was considered a Mighty Warrior (2 Sam 23:39)

Share about his loyalty to his king and his fellow soldiers:

2 Sam 11:9 “But Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and did not go down to his house.”

2 Sam 11:11 “Uriah said to David, “The ark and Israel and Judah dwell in booths, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are camping in the open field. Shall I then go to 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.””

Share how Joab willingly allowed Uriah and several other soldiers to die:

2 Sam 11:14-17 “In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah. In the letter he wrote, “Set Uriah in the forefront of the hardest fighting, and then draw back from him, that he may be struck down, and die.” And as Joab was besieging the city, he assigned Uriah to the place where he knew there were valiant men. And the men of the city came out and fought with Joab, and some of the servants of David among the people fell. Uriah the Hittite also died.”

What does it mean?

Share the parallel of Uriah the Hittite and Eddie Penney of Seal Team 6 (reference the Shawn Ryan Show)

Eddie Penney spent 20 years in the U.S. military, first as a Marine and later as a Navy SEAL assigned to the Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU), better known as SEAL Team Six.... During the grueling six-month SEAL training and selection program known as Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) Training, Eddie and his fellow trainees watched the 9/11 attacks live as the images streamed worldwide. Knowing that he and his classmates would soon be in harm’s way, the training took on a sobering importance. Suddenly, it was real.

After two combat deployments with SEAL Team Two, Eddie tried out and was selected for DEVGRU, the elite of the elite and the tip of the nation’s spear in the fight against terrorist threats worldwide. Terrified of missing the action, Eddie became a breacher, the first man to the door on a target and one of the most dangerous jobs imaginable.

Eddie transitioned out of the navy and was physically there for his children, but his inability to show normal emotions challenged his relationships with them. He was on a dark path, with few signs of hope. He was on his way to becoming yet another statistic. On a whim and with nothing to lose, he agreed to attend a men’s retreat at a local church. The event changed his life, instilling in him the peace that he could be forgiven for his actions. His faith gave him hope and allowed him to attack civilian life with the same focus that he had used to forge such a successful military career. (taken from eddiepenney.com)

Similar to Uriah, Eddie was on the front lines

Similar to Uriah, Eddie was ready for battle

Similar to Uriah, Eddie felt abandoned/betrayed by the "king” he served.

Like Uriah, Eddie was an elite warrior who was known for his skill and ability.

Unlike Uriah, Eddie survived and came home after the battle, but it took him hitting rock bottom before he recognized his need for salvation.

This should be taken as a reminder that any system established by the world might let you down.

How should I respond?

Uriah was loyal to an earthy king and was betrayed.

Eddie was loyal to an earthly kingdom and suffered incredible loss and heartache.

Instead of focusing on this world and all of its trappings we should instead focus on God’s kingdom and His righteousness.

Matthew 24:3-14 - 3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”