David committed adultery with Bath-sheba, the wife of Uriah, he endeavoured to father the spurious brood upon Uriah. When that project failed, he plotted the death of Uriah by the sword of the children of Ammon.
In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. In the letter he wrote, “Put Uriah in the front lines where the fighting is the fiercest. Then pull back ( abandon him ) and leave him exposed so that he will be struck down and die..” 2 Samuel 11:14-15
“Then pull back and leave him exposed…” Uriah did not die because he could not handle the intensity of the battle, but he died because of the negligence of those who were supposed to support him in the battle zone. His fellow soldiers sold him out. Those who were supposed to cover him, “exposed” him for the enemy to devour him. The paradox here is: the true enemies of Uriah were not those he was fighting in the front, but those he was expecting to protect him in the back.
We must understand that Uriah was a skilful, well trained, and disciplined soldier. He was one of the best in David’s army. But still he could not fight the battle alone, he needed a faithful team to back him up. It’s not that he was weak or inexperienced, the real issue here is not weakness, the real issue here is “negligence”.
Strong soldiers have died in the field because of negligence, strong soldiers have been fatally wounded in the field because of indifference. When we shift back in a time of trouble and need, innocent and faithful people die either physically, emotionally or spiritually.
When we pull back and expose our brethren, we become co-workers with the enemy and God is watching us. God will hold us accountable for neglecting our brothers and sisters in times of need. Sometimes people leave the church because we pulled back in their times of need and thus they got exposed to the enemy. Let’s be careful not to neglect one another especially in times of need.
Many must be involved in the guilt. Joab the general and all that retire from Uriah when they ought in conscience to support and second him, become guilty of his death. Uriah cannot thus die alone: the party he commands is in danger of being cut off with him
Let none therefore encourage themselves in sin by the example of David; for those that sin as he did will fall under the displeasure of God as he did. Let us therefore stand in awe and sin not, not sin after the similitude of his transgression.
What else can we learn? Share your thought in the comment section.
Blessings.
Powerful word. What other lesson could be possible be learned here.
The piece was clearly crafted and it blessed my soul.
Thank you and God bless you.
We can also learn loyalty.
Uriah was one of the thirty mighty men of David 1 Chronicles 11: 41
A loyal soldier in Israel’s army. That was why he refused twice to go home when David set him up to go and sleep with his pregnant wife. He said he could not go to his house to eat and drink, and lie with his wife when the ark and Israel and Judah were dwelling in tents, and Joab and his officers were encamped in the open fields.