Uriah the Loyal Introduction 1. The story of David and Bathsheba truly is one of the saddest stories in the Bible. a) For a moment of pleasure, David turned his back on His God and showed contempt for all the Lord had done for him. b) Moreover, he set in motion events that would not only stain his reputation forever more, but would also, quite literally, tear his family apart. 2. One thing that makes this sin all the more disgraceful is taking a closer look at the one person in the story who shows any moral fiber and is most often overlooked, that being Uriah the Hittite, Bathsheba’s husband and David’s servant. 3. We would be hard pressed to find another man who exemplifies the quality of loyalty demonstrated by this tragic character. Discussion I. Loyalty to His Wife A. Nathan describes Uriah’s feelings for Bathsheba in the story of the rich man and the poor man. 2 Samuel 12:1-4 1. If David is the rich man in the story and Bathsheba is the little ewe lamb, then we understand that Uriah is the poor man who had nothing else. 2. As we think about the poor man, the word “cherish” comes to mind. a) Obviously, Bathsheba meant everything to Uriah. b) Just being in her presences brought him great joy, and he willingly gave of himself in order that she might be happy. c) He may have only had one little ewe lamb, but he needed nothing more and nothing else to be happy and content. B. Proverbs prescribes this same attitude of cherishing our spouse to all who would strive to be wise and live a godly life. Proverbs 5:15-20 C. Paul commanded the same level of commitment for both spouses. Eph. 5:22, 25 D. On the surface, many of us probably feel fairly satisfied in our devotion to our mates, but I wonder how many of us are really just deceiving ourselves. 1. Jesus said to lust is to commit adultery in our hearts. Matthew 5:27-30 2. If what’s in your heart ever came to light would you still feel as devoted to your spouse as you originally felt? 3. Lust is one of the greatest of all heart diseases. It kills marriages, alienates children, and ultimately it will condemn souls to hell. E. If we are ever going to be truly loyal to our spouses we must start by controlling our eyes and our minds. 1. Job made a covenant with his eyes. Job 31:1-4 2. He refused to linger at the door of his neighbor. Job 31:9-12 1
II. Loyalty To His Brethren A. Uriah was a member of an elite fighting force called “the thirty.” 2 Samuel 23:39 1. He had fought along side those men for many years. 2. They had experienced many hardships together (i.e., the burning of Ziklag). 3. He had even married the daughter of another member of the thirty – Eliam. B. It is for that reason that he refuses to enjoy the comforts of home while his brothers in arms are off fighting for the king. 2 Samuel 11:8-11 1. These are the only words spoken by Uriah in the entire Bible. Vs. 11 2. The bond he felt with those men was stronger than the desire that surely burned in his heart for the wife he loved. 3. I find that devotion to be inspirational! C. Remember that Jesus felt this same connection with His disciples. Mark 3:31-35 D. In truth, it is the kind of affection that we should all feel one for another. 1. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love… Romans 12:10-16 2. 1 Corinthians 13, while often read at weddings, really describes the love Christians must have for others of like precious faith. E. Also, consider that Uriah’s loyalty could not be eroded by the influence of alcohol. 2 Samuel 11:13 1. As a side note, this demonstrates one of the great dangers of alcohol that Christians must avoid. Alcohol lowers inhibitions and weakens judgment. 2. This also illustrates the influence the world often exerts on Christians that does indeed weaken the bond between us. a) Paul dealt with this among the Corinthians. 1 Corinthians 3:1-4 b) We let the world pull us apart in so many ways and whether it be the latest false doctrine or simply the pursuit of riches, when our bond is undermined, we all suffer and the Lord is not pleased! F. Uriah felt a real connection to those men out in the field and out of loyalty to them he was willing to suffer. Do you feel the same? III. Loyalty To His King A. By far the greatest quality we see in Uriah is his loyalty to David. 1. The men called “the thirty” began serving David long before he ascended to the throne, and they followed him all over the countryside. 2. Uriah, though a Hittite, seems to have converted to Judaism. a) His name men “YAHWEH is my light.” b) His marriage to Bathsheba probably would have required it. c) His mention of the ark being in the field may also be an indication. Vs. 11 3. David knew Uriah could be trusted to not read his own death warrant. 2 Samuel 11:14-15 2
4. Even more, David knew that Uriah would not shy away from giving his life in the service of the king. 5. It really is a shame that David took advantage of such loyalty as this, but Uriah was right in giving it, even if David didn’t appreciate it. B. Uriah put into action what we are often unwilling to put into words. 1. His commitment to the king was greater than the devotion to his wife. 2. The profession of our faith in Jesus means nothing without that same level of commitment to our King. Matthew 10:34-39 a) If you had to make a choice between Jesus and your family this very evening, who would you choose? b) Let me warn you now, someday you just might have to make that decision! C. While Uriah’s loyalty was not appreciated or reciprocated by David, we can rest assured that such loyalty to King Jesus will be rewarded! 1. Those faithful to death receive crown of life. Revelation 2:10 2. Martyred soul’s rewarded. Revelation 6:9-11; 19:1-2, 7-9 3. Those loyal to Jesus will stand with Him in the end. a) God marks His servants on earth, and shepherds those in heaven. Rev. 7 b) Those who He marked are with Jesus on Mt. Zion. Revelation 14:1-5 c) All who die in the Lord after that are blessed. Revelation 14:13 d) Together, they all reign in heaven forever and ever. Revelation 22:5 D. There is no greater calling than serving the King of kings and Lord of Lords, no greater duty than being loyal to His cause, and no greater reward than for those who endure the hardships of service simply out of devotion to the Master. Conclusion 1. When we talk about loyalty we could just as easily call it faithfulness, or we could talk about true love because ultimately that’s what we see in Uriah. He was a man who knew what love was and it showed in his faithful life of service. 2. Also, I hope you can see how interconnected these points are. a) By neglecting any one of these relationships we create problems with the others as well. b) A wandering eye will lead us away from God, not just our spouse. c) Not putting God first is a surefire way of disrupting every other relationship we find ourselves in. 3. I just want to encourage each one of us to be loyal servants of God, and let that loyalty spill over into every other relationship in our lives. 4. All of us what to be the best we can be, and the only way we can ever achieve that goal is with Jesus on our side. –Simon Harris Columbus, MS 3
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