Uriah, the Light of our Lord!

The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. (Romans 13:12 NKJV)

Uriah, the name means the Lord is my light, my fire. This man is often talked about in sermons, regarding the sin of David. Uriah's wife was taken by David, while Uriah was out to battle. I do not remember ever hearing a sermon or lesson on the character of Uriah. Though there is not very much written about him, what is, should speak volumes to the Christian heart. This was a man of valor, a warrior, a soldier, a commander of men. He loved his king, his country, and would do all he could to be faithful to his calling. Uriah was a man of principle. He put the things of God first. He was a soldier of Israel, and that made him a soldier of the Lord. No rest or pleasures, would take away his priority of being faithful to the Lord, and to Israel. I believe, like David, Uriah was a man after God's own heart. Little did he know that the king he highly esteemed would betray him. Uriah counted all as loss, for a higher calling. Is this not the way of the Christian? Then Peter said, "See, we have left all and followed You." So He said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, "who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life." (Luke 18:28-30 NKJV)

When Uriah is mentioned in the Bible in regard to this particular soldier, it mentions him as, Uriah the Hittite. The word Hittite means one who is broken. I thought of this, in light of the word, and it is a challenge to me. The bible says: The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart-These, O God, You will not despise. (Psalms 51:17 NKJV)

Over and over again, the Scripture reminds us, Uriah was a Hittite, one of a broken spirit, a humbled man before the Lord. This is the only way to be on fire for God. There is no pride, or arrogance in a warrior of the Lord. No soldier of Christ, go out to make a name for himself. He is not about building an empire but one, and that is the Kingdom of God. He is not bought or sold, will not compromise, or settle for lukewarm complacency. The broken soul, becomes like the bush that Moses came before, it was not consumed by the fire, instead, a burning torch that draws the seeking heart to God. "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. (Matthew 5:14 NKJV)

While David was back at Jerusalem, Uriah was out to battle. David should not have been at ease; He should have been with his men. It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. (2 Samuel 11:1 NKJV) The time he decided to take a break, hold back, the tempter was right on him. He lost his greatest battle at home, at rest. When David sinned he was not in dressed in armor. If we confess to be a Christian, we are called to be dressed and ready at all times in the armor of the Lord: Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (Ephesians 6:10-11 NKJV) David knew he was in trouble when he found out Bathsheba was pregnant. Her name in Hebrew means: Daughter of Oath. David broke this sacred oath, by taking that which does not belong to him. This is always the downward trend in sin. Satan wants us to make a claim to that which does not belong to us. The enemy's tactic is to get us to break the oath, that we have been crucified with Christ, our lives are no longer our own. When we lay claim to anything as Christians, we have broken the oath. We have prostituted ourselves out to a world that will rob us of our spiritual life. Many of the Christian teachings I hear today are a claim to grab a hold of all we can, to raise our self esteem, instead of dying to self. We are at ease in this world, paying the price of the boastful pride of this life. For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. (1 Corinthians 6:20 NKJV)

David figured the best way to cover his sin was to bring Uriah home from battle. David was convinced, the first thing Uriah would do is return home, be with his wife, take a break from the battle. Does this not seem the right thing to do, is this not common sense? However, Uriah was not a man of common sense, he was a soldier of Light. How could he enjoy the comfort of home, while his men were out in the raging battle? His place was to be with them, to lead, to be an example. Even at the cost of his life, surely at the cost of the comforts of home, he would not forsake the calling. And David said to Uriah, "Go down to your house and wash your feet." So Uriah departed from the king's house, and a gift of food from the king followed him. But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and did not go down to his house. (2 Samuel 11:8-9 NKJV) If the church of this hour had such men, such honor amongst us, the devil would be in great fear. The sword of truth would wield it's might from shore to shore. There would be men who have counted all as loss for Christ. How is it we are so lulled to sleep? Few fight the good fight of faith, why multitudes of confessing Christians spend their time on things that turn to dust and rust. We have more seminars, so called Christian retreats, music concerts, Christian cruises, in which heaps of resources are spent on, while millions face eternity without a warrior, a soldier of light to reach them. Many want to travel to Israel on a tour to see where Jesus walked, few walk the walk He walked. The few that do long to fight the good fight of faith, are very seldom encouraged, or backed up by the ones who say the love the Lord. When I read about Uriah, I am challenged to forsake all this mess around me for the sake of the call of the Lord. I want to finish my race as a soldier of the Light. Like Uriah, I do not want to settle in, why the war is raging. Shall I be at ease while the church overseas is persecuted. Shall I relax while few are fighting a raging battle? Shall I turn my eyes away from the harvest, because there is little to work with? Is there any excuse that we stay comfortable while millions perish? God forbid I would ever bear the name of a Christian, with a heart of compromise such as this. And Uriah said to David, "The ark and Israel and Judah are dwelling in tents, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are encamped in the open fields. Shall I then go to my house to eat and drink, and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing." (2 Samuel 11:11 NKJV) David did send this man of valor back to battle, because he knew there was no changing his mind. Is our mind often changed by the things of this life? One moment on fire, the next swayed by the road blocks Satan sends our way. I am ashamed to say that I have allowed to much to get in the Way of the only Road to travel. There is only one Road for a Christian, it is a narrow Road, no room for the baggage this world wants us to cling too. There is only room for the soldier and his armor, nothing else. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:12 NKJV) David sent a letter with Uriah, in that letter was the sentence to set a trap to have Uriah killed. And he wrote in the letter, saying, "Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retreat from him, that he may be struck down and die." (2 Samuel 11:15 NKJV) Joab was to go to the Frontline, send Uriah, and the men of valor forward into the heat of the battle, than draw all men back, but Uriah. He did this, and Uriah was slain. Then the men of the city came out and fought with Joab. And some of the people of the servants of David fell; and Uriah the Hittite died also. (2 Samuel 11:17 NKJV) This is a sad passage, that one so faithful, sacrificed for the sin of David. In my mind, I picture the battle. The men of valor went forward fighting the enemy right at their gate. Than the men started drawing back, leaving Uriah to fight alone. Uriah though, did not flee. Though his men where retreating, he stood his ground. Uriah was not alone. Though Joab ordered all to retreat, but Uraih, others stayed too. Along with Uriah, other valiant men perished in this battle. They would not compromise, they too, would not draw back from the battle. There will always be the voices to tell us to draw back from the battle. Some will use their authority, their might to sway the soldier of light away from the fight. I know this first hand. Like Peter we must have but one response. But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men. (Acts 5:29 NKJV)
No matter the cost, our life is lost in the grace of the Lord. We are no longer our own. A soldier of Light is bound by the oath of uncompromising love. I will always see Uriah as such a one, encouraged by his example. After this study, it has sparked a fire within, what it means to be a faithful servant, a Christian of valor, not to compromise. We have one to race to run; one battle to fight. Shall I be at ease, why my brothers are out in the field fighting the good fight of faith? Shall I put my sword into the sheath of lukewarm complacency? Arise is the call in my heart. I long to draw close to the heart of God, my heart aflame in His grace and mercy, bright and true to His calling. I want to run the race at whatever the cost. I long to be faithful, to the One who gave all, to save such a wretch like me. I long to honor Christ name, fighting the fight of faith at whatever cost, even at the gates of hell. If need be, my life taken in the fight, what honor it would be to be wearing the boots that did not flee. That my life be one of those who wield the sword that has not been hidden away. To have the testimony that I held true with the shield of faith. That I too would wear the helmet of salvation with honor, not the dishonor of apathy. I know there are Uriah's amongst us. I pray if you are one, that you are encouraged to go forth, and fight the good fight of faith. Though none go with you, follow the One who bought you with His precious blood. Our life is brief; spend it as a soldier of the Light. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. (2 Timothy 4:5 NKJV)What are you wearing?

But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. (1 Thessalonians 5:8 NKJV)

By Tom Faunce