Jump Start # 945

2 Samuel 11:14 “Now in the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah.”

Our Jump Start yesterday discussed the lustful king David taking advantage of Bathsheba and committing adultery with her. For a while his escapade was a secret. Then Bathsheba sent word, “I am pregnant.” With her husband off in war, all fingers would point to the king. David becomes desperate in trying to cover this sin up.

David does three things. All of them are a downward spiral of fear, panic and desperation.

First, he brings Uriah home and asks him about the state of the war. That is something that normally would never happen. If David really wanted to know, he’d ask Joab, his general. Uriah was one of David’s mighty men—fierce, loyal and tough. He needed Uriah on the front lines. David’s thinking is that after sleeping in tents and eating grub with smelly soldiers the sound of home couldn’t be resisted. Home cooked food. His own bed. His wife. David thought this will work. It didn’t. Uriah is so loyal and dedicated and focused that he refuses to go home while his fellow soldiers are fighting. He sleeps at David’s doorstep.

Second, David invites Uriah to eat with him. Again, something that a king wouldn’t do with a common soldier. The text says, “He made him drunk” (v. 13). David knew. David is smarter than some of us. He knew what alcohol will do. A man of principle like Uriah will not compromise, at least not sober. Get enough booze in a person and they’ll say and do anything.  Drinking and violence go together. Drinking and sex go together. Get someone boozed up and they will let their guard down. They will do things they would never do if sober. David knows that. Get Uriah drunk and he will go home to his wife. It’s a shame that too many believers do not see the danger of drinking. They stick their toes in the water without seeing a tidal wave of trouble is coming. A drink here, soon becomes two, soon becomes many. I’ve noticed drinking lately. My wife and I have gone to some classical concerts. Among the pearls and fancy dresses and all the bling, bling is booze. It’s at all professional sports. Can’t we go to a show or a game without alcohol? Alcohol flows like rivers in our country. The affects are seen in cancer centers, divorce courts and empty dreams. Uriah drank. Uriah got drunk. Uriah still did not go home. A drunk Uriah had more principle than the sober David.

Third, David sends Uriah back to the front with a note. The note called for David’s men to retreat, which they never did. Uriah was to be left behind. Uriah was to be killed. Others would also be killed. Uriah carried his own death note. David knew he could trust Uriah. He knew that Uriah wouldn’t peek. He knew he could spell out the death of one of his mighty men and all would be fine. The plan worked. Joab pulled the troops back in the heat of fighting and Uriah and others died. Uriah died a war hero. He probably never knew about his wife being unfaithful nor that he was being used as a pawn by a crooked king. He never knew that all this was a plan to cover the king’s sin. Uriah was not the only one to die in that ugly plan. Others died. Their blood was upon the king’s hand.

A few observations:

• Temptation can be so strong that we fail to see straight. That happened to David. The pleasure of sin can blind us to the consequences and path of destruction it leaves behind.
• Guilt will lead us to fall on our knees before God or it will cause us to break every rule to cover it up. Guilt will make us come home like the prodigal or guilt will lead us to lie to the people we love the most. The shame of sin and the desire to hide it will lead us to being dishonest, deceptive, and ungodly.

• We have a task before us that we must stay committed to. Uriah is a great example of that. Uriah is a giant in principle. Uriah is one giant that David could not conquer.

Uriah is a great example of commitment, dedication and determination. He was a faithful and trusted soldier. He was true to his cause. What a true example the Hittite Uriah is.

NOTE: My apologies to the readers of my home congregation. This is a summary of my sermon last Sunday. It fits with our series. If you would like to listen to the sermon, go to: www.charlestownroadchurchofchrist.com

Roger