In First Chronicles, chapter eleven, verse forty-one, Uriah is listed as one of the mighty men who faithfully gives David support in verse ten. Yet David took this warrior’s wife for himself and had Uriah murdered. David’s sin left ugly scars and consequences for himself, his family, and Israel. The sin is alluded to in the first chapter of the New Testament.
Uriah the Hittite was one of David’s mighty men described in verses ten through forty-seven. However, these brave men did not know their fate. Still, Uriah’s outcome was a plan from the King, who faithfully demonstrated strong support. When David sends Joab for Uriah and later tells the brave warrior to go down to his house after enjoying a social encounter in the palace, as in verse eight of Second Samuel eleven, he did not follow the command. In the following verse, Uriah sleeps at the door of the King’s house instead.
Like a true soldier, Uriah the Hittite lay all night in the guard-chamber, and did not go home to his wife. He did this by the secret influence of God upon his mind and the order of his wise providence, not knowing that David’s sin could come to light eventhough the King made an effort to conceal it. After discovering Uriah’s whereabouts through his servants, the King questions him in verse ten. “And when they had told David, saying, Uriah went not down unto his house, David said unto Uriah, Camest thou not from thy journey? Why then didst thou not go down unto thine house?” In verse eleven, Uriah’s response is godly. “And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? As thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing.”
Uriah the Hittite had a heart for God and to live righteously in all his doing. The ungodliness in the King’s situation could not tolerate the godliness in Uriah the Hittite. Many faithful believers experience conflicting circumstances due to their faith and love for God. Eventhough we might not understand what God allows, we know He works things out for our good.