Uriah - a Faithful Man Found

Introduction

I began to name this the ‘Bible Person Study’, but chose to go with the ‘Bible Character Study’. I hesitated to name it that, as I don’t want to diminish the fact that these are real people we’ll be examining. But the reason that it’s named the Bible Character Study is because we’ll be focusing on the person’s character throughout. But don’t forget that these were real people, with real lives that made real choices that had real consequences.

I. Uriah’s Nature

(What is their History / Background?)

One of David’s ‘Mighty Men’ (1Chr. 11:41; 2Sam. 23:39)

David had an elite band of soldiers - the ‘best of the best’ - the ‘Palestinian Navy Seals’. The Bible speaks some about their exploits, but the bottom line is, there were the baddest of the bad. And Uriah was one of them.

When we consider what happened to this man, our (at least mine) thoughts tend to think as though he was more of a wimpy man who got played - but he was a man’s, man. He was a strong warrior who was part of a fearsome fighting group.

One of David’s ‘Mighty Men’

Husband of Bathsheba

Before David ever cast his eyes upon her, Uriah had courted, won the heart of and married Bathsheba - who was obviously a very attractive woman - so much so that the King of the land had to have.

Husband of Bathsheba

A Hittite by Birth

The Hittites were a people who were inhabitants of the land that God had promised Abraham, and we first hear of them in Genesis 15:18–20 “In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites, And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims,”

Who the Hittites were is not as important as who they were not. They were not of Abraham’s seed. Because they were not of Abraham’s seed, they were not a partaker of the promises of God!

A Hittite by Birth

II. Uriah’s Notoriety

(What they are known for?)

Being an Honorable Man

It’s hard to find fault in Uriah.

As we look over the life of Uriah, we see a stunning characteristic that shines through that we’ll speak on in a moment - but you’d be hard pressed to find fault in him.

The greatest fault one could attribute to Uriah would be that he was either obtuse or gullible, as he’s played like a pawn throughout this narration - but I don’t see how any of that could be seen as his fault.

You know the saying - ‘fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me’ - but everyone in his life seemed to fool him once.

His King, his wife, his commander… there’s no reason why Uriah shouldn’t have been able to trust these people in his life.

Being Shamefully Treated

Speaking of those in which he should have been able to trust, he was shamefully treated by them.

I said that it’s hard to find fault in Uriah, it’s equally hard to NOT find fault in the manner in which those close to him treated him.

His King

Remember, Uriah was one of David’s ‘Mighty Men’ - Uriah surely wasn’t a stranger to David.

It’s interesting to note that David wrote: Psa. 41, yet I want to note that in Psa. 41:9 while David spoke of himself (possibly concerning Ahithophel - David’a counselor), also this is prophetic concerning Jesus and Judas - but is parallel with how David treated Uriah (2Sam. 11:13)

His Wife

I’ll get to her in a minute

His Commanding Officer Joab

That Joab could examine that note, and do what he did to Uriah is beyond me.

Uriah was Shamefully treated by those who should have loved him

Being Slain by David

Of course being slain by David.

While the Ammonites were the tool, the wielder of that tool was David. Everyone (and God) knew this.

Being Slain by David

III. What Makes him Noteworthy

(What Lessons we can Learn from them?)

Choose a Spouse Carefully

‘If you want to be happy for the rest of your life, never make a pretty woman your wife…’

I don’t want to take this portion of the message and bash Bathsheba. Many would say that she’s not at fault, she had to because David was the king, etc. I don’t buy that.

Bathsheba was bathing in view of others

Some things that I want to note:

Women’s temptation of men

Many women dress provocatively and justify their sin by saying that ‘men shouldn’t be perverts and look’ - there’s much to be said here:

Looking is oftentimes unavoidable. But they shouldn’t continue to once they see.

Secondly - women dress provocatively mostly FOR THE ATTENTION. So they’ll dress in whorish garments for attention, then when they get it complain.

However, the point is this: Regardless of what you desire, if you are knowingly casting a stumbling block before you’re brother it’s sin. (Ill.) Women running around town naked because it’s ‘hot’

Romans 14:13 “Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.”

Jesus wrote against the church in Pergamos for this:

Revelation 2:14 “But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.”

Bathsheba notified David, not her husband when pregnant

Why? If she wasn’t guilty, why didn’t she send word for her husband?

Bathsheba married up quick after her mourning

The bottom line is, you need to be very careful about who you choose to marry, are God intended for marriage to last for life.

Choose a Spouse Carefully

Gentiles weren’t Forsaken by God

Remember, Uriah was a Hittite. He wasn’t a Jew - but he’s got a very Jewish name. Either given by his parents, or adopted on his own. Uriah is derived from Yahweh.

The name ‘Uriah’ (def) Jehovah is light; light of the LORD; light of Jehovah; the LORD my light.

It’s apparent that Uriah surely and probably his parents and maybe grandparents and such before him had become practicing Jews.

You see, God made a way for Gentiles prior to Christ

When God gave command for the passover, we see in Exodus 12:48 “And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.”

The Gentiles were to become as Jews in that day - they were to bear the mark of the Abrahamic Covenant and were free to partake of the passover meal which is a picture of Christ.

As we consider Uriah, and this episode and God’s response to it, God did not look upon Uriah as though he was nothing and disregarded the evil done unto him.

Israel’s problem with the commands and instruction of God is the same as the churches today. Israel was more concerned with their own ‘included’ status than with the ‘excluded’.

Gentiles weren’t Forsaken by God.

Faithfulness is Admirable

The word that comes to mind when I think of Uriah is that he was faithful. Proverbs 20:6 “Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: But a faithful man who can find?” I see Uriah as a Faithful man found.

Uriah was Faithful:

To his God, King, Wife, Mission, Convictions

God

Notice the first thing that Uriah spoke of when protesting his instruction to go to his house: (v11)

‘My God is dwelling in a tent, and I should do better than that?’ Uriah thought more of his God than his comfort.

More Christians should be like this.

King

When the King called, Uriah went. When the King sent, Uriah went. The only thing Uriah didn’t do was forsake his duty to go to his house.

Wife

Bathsheba wasn’t faithful to him, but he was to Bathsheba.

Mission

When it was time to fight, he fought

When time to give word, he did

When time to be a messenger, he went

When time to go into the danger zone, he did

Uriah was faithful to his mission

Let me ask you church - are you being faithful to your mission? Every one of us has one…

Convictions

There’s evidence that David’s men when they were on duty, they practiced abstinence. 1 Samuel 21:4–5 “And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under mine hand, but there is hallowed bread; if the young men have kept themselves at least from women. And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days, since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in a manner common, yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel.”

(Ill.) Mickey to Rocky - “Women weaken the legs”.

Whatever the circumstance, Uriah was faithful. Not only that, but WHENEVER, he was faithful as well…

In Rest, when Impaired, in Service, Battle, Death

In Rest

The King had given him an opportunity to rest - yet Uriah didn’t let his guard down, he remained faithful

When Impaired (1Sam. 11:13)

Even when David got him drunk, he had enough control over his faculties to do that which was right - instead of giving excuse to do evil

In Service

As we had mentioned before - in the various capacities he served

In Battle

He was ordered to fight up against the wall - where imminent danger was.

In Death

When all the others withdrew, Uriah was faithful to fight unto death

Uriah was faithful in all he did.

We Christians need to be faithful as well.

Uriah was faithful to a faulty, human king

We serve the King of kings - how much more should we be?

Faithfulness is Admirable

You can Do what’s Right and still be Done Wrong

This principle holds true with both people and in life

There’s been times in my life where I’ve done what’s right unto others, only to have them backbite and fight against me.

But also in life in general

The prosperity gospel will tell you that as long as you have faith and you give, then everything in life will be swell.

The fact of the matter is, we live in a fallen world amongst wicked sinners - some have been forgiven and others have not, but sinners just the same.

We just need to make sure that we’re doing right and being faithful.

As we consider Uriah, we see how those did him wrong…

His King, his Wife, his Commander, his Countrymen

David did him wrong:

Committed adultery with his wife

Bathsheba did him wrong:

Arguable, but I think she did

Joab did him wrong:

To get that note and do that to him

His Countrymen - fellow soldiers

They had to know in order to withdraw and leave him there.

Regardless of what it brings, we can take comfort in that knowing God will repay

But God will Repay

Romans 12:19 “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”

God made it right. He not only punished David & Bathsheba, but he glorified the name of a gentile in the Word of God for eternity.

God will Repay

Conclusion