The death of Bathsheba’s husband Uriah

30. October 2009 by Bernice Davis.

Hello Everyone:

We are closing our study out this week with the death of Uriah.   David sent his faithful servant to his death all to cover up his sin.  WOW!!!!!  This is King David, the innocent shepherd boy who loved God with all his heart and wrote songs to him daily and was so strong and confident and humble and meek.  What happened?  How did he get so heartless?  This was a man whose sensitivity towards God was unmatched. 

Here is the story:

II Samuel 11: 14 In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. 15 In it he wrote, “Put Uriah in the front line where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die.” 16 So while Joab had the city under siege, he put Uriah at a place where he knew the strongest defenders were. 17 When the men of the city came out and fought against Joab, some of the men in David’s army fell; moreover, Uriah the Hittite died. 18 Joab sent David a full account of the battle. 19 He instructed the messenger: “When you have finished giving the king this account of the battle, 20 the king’s anger may flare up, and he may ask you, ‘Why did you get so close to the city to fight? Didn’t you know they would shoot arrows from the wall? 21 Who killed Abimelech son of Jerub-Besheth? Didn’t a woman throw an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died in Thebez? Why did you get so close to the wall?’ If he asks you this, then say to him, ‘Also, your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead.’” 22 The messenger set out, and when he arrived he told David everything Joab had sent him to say. 23 The messenger said to David, “The men overpowered us and came out against us in the open, but we drove them back to the entrance to the city gate. 24 Then the archers shot arrows at your servants from the wall, and some of the king’s men died. Moreover, your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead.” 25 David told the messenger, “Say this to Joab: ‘Don’t let this upset you; the sword devours one as well as another. Press the attack against the city and destroy it.’ Say this to encourage Joab.”

As you can see from the text, David sends the instruction that would kill Uriah through a letter given to Uriah.  This man was so faithful that he didn’t open the letter to even see what was in it.  You know I would have just been too curious as to what I was delivering. I would have had to peek.  His loyalty for the king and the cause of Israel was simply remarkable.  

David sends one of his most faithful servants to his death simply to cover up David’s own wrong.

As you read the details of the battle, you will see that Joab was concerned about David being angry that they had lost so many men that day including Abimelech.   Joab was concerned that David would complain of their unsuccessful strategy but he instructed the messenger to tell David if he appears angry to simply include that his servant Uriah was also dead.

Joab was hoping that David’s strong desire to see this man dead to cover up his sin would ease the rebuke of the disaster that occurred on the battle day.  When the messenger tells David the news, he sends back a message to encourage Joab.  David tells him basically that the sword is no respecter of persons and for Joab not to get upset but to press on and destroy the city.

Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Today, for the first time in the life of David, we see him in a different like.   It is one thing to commit adultery with another man’s wife but to have the man killed and to make matters worst, a man that would have easily given his life for David because  takes it to another level.

Have a great weekend everyone and on Monday, we will deal with what happens when Bathsheba’s learns that her husband is dead.

Stay encouraged.

Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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