2 Sam. 11:11-17

(2Sa 11:13) “And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house.” 

In this segment of verses (2 Sam. 11:11-17) Samuel, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, reveals three areas in the life of Uriah that set the standard for the soldier of Jesus Christ. The title of this devotion is, “What a Duration – No Comparison.” First, Uriah was tempted for the second time to go to his house and be with his wife for a night; yet he refused. Secondly, he was the courier to Joab, the field general, with a letter written by David that would bring about his death; he did not destroy it; but, delivered it to Joab. Thirdly, he obeyed the orders of his field general that would mean his death; and he did this without reservation. This action of Uriah, even unto his death, was a Duration of No Comparison. His actions are the example of duration for the soldier of Jesus Christ, that he stays true to his oath as a soldier. This duration of obedience by Uriah to his oath of the soldier, is labeled “No Comparison,” because without the power of God, no man could perform as Uriah did. There is No Comparison for the loyalty of a true soldier of Jesus Christ; for this loyalty is unto death with no complaint, and with no compromise.

Notice the three areas of Uriah’s loyalty:

First, Uriah’s refusal the second time to indulge himself in his flesh with his wife. In the text verses, David tried, for the second time, to get Uriah to go home before he returned to the battlefield. However, even though David got him drunk, Uriah refused to go down to his house to be with his wife. As viewed through the eyes of the flesh, not going down to see his wife before going back to the battle field to enjoy the comfort of his wife and to indulge in the benefits of marriage, is not normal; and would never happen, unless God’s power intervened, to give one the power to overcome the pull to change his order of priority of being a soldier and yield to the flesh.

The flesh cannot be overcome without the power of God being present in a person. The flesh reasons: You have been in the field and away from your wife for a long period of time. You need to go home and be with your wife; for it may be a long time before you come home again. The men will not mind, and would do the same if given the same opportunity. More importantly, the king wants you to go, and God ordained marriage, and has given you your wife; so, it is alright to go home and change your priority of the soldier’s oath.

However (2 Sam. 11:11-13) reveal that Uriah refused and did not go down to his house to spend the night with his wife. The origin of marriage is not in question here; but, what is being brought to light, is the depth, or the strength, of the soldier to his oath above his own fleshly desires.

Secondly, Uriah was courier of his own death orders. Here we see the opportunity that Uriah had to read the letter written by David to Joab concerning Uriah’s future; but, he did not. If he did read it, it is not recorded. And if he did read it, it did not stop him from delivering the orders to Joab to send him to his own death. The reason being, as was mentioned in the first devotion, was Uriah’s loyalty and trust in his king concerning his future. The child of God is completely at peace with King Jesus’ decision with the future; whether it be unto death or unto life.

(Php 1:20-21) (20) “…so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.” (21) “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

For the soldier of Jesus Christ to be completely submitted to the Will of God for his life; he must know Christ experientially. That is, not in word only; but, by an intimate relationship; where by experience, he has previously been the recipient of God’s love, mercy, and grace. And from past experiences, he knows that God has good for him, and he knows that he is even alive for the glory of God. He must be assured of the Promises of God. He must understand that he has a certain course to run for Christ. And when he reaches the fulfilment of his purpose; then he knows to die is gain.

Thirdly, Uriah obeyed the orders of his field general that would lead to his death, and he did this without reservation. It is one thing to say you are loyal and that you trust your king; but, it is quite another – when the time comes to obey the orders that would lead to death – and obedience is the fruit.

Unless one could talk to the martyrs of how they endured, even unto their death; it really is suppositional in one sense, as viewed through the eye of the flesh by those who have never given their life as a soldier of Jesus Christ for His Name’s sake, as to how they faced death, and suffered death, without denial of the faith to save their life. But the example of Uriah, and the other martyrs, stand as a permanent monument that God’s special grace is given when needed to those whose purpose and course has been fulfilled. It is not suppositional on God’s part; for His promises are sure and amen in Christ Jesus. God said in (Heb. 13:5c) “…I will never leave you, nor forsake you…”  Whereas, only the voice and the action of the martyr can say, ‘God is true and His promises are true,’ since they have experienced death itself.

But in the spiritual sense, all that possess The Faith (or Christ, Who is the Faith; Gal. 2:20), have through faith the ability to say as the martyr says because of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit of God:

‘God is True, Righteous, Just, Perfect, and Holy; and all His promises are true. Also, God is my Creator, Controller and Consummator. My time and my days are in Thine hands. I was created for your honor and glory. Therefore, my path, my life, my strength, and even my death is in the Plan and Purpose of God Almighty, the Only True and Living God; to Whom I yield myself completely to do as He pleases with His Servant.’

Therefore, in death, in life, or facing death; duration by the soldier of Jesus Christ has no comparison because of the Gift of Faith (or the Gift of Christ, Who is The Faith Himself), living and abiding in the regenerated child of God. See (Heb. 11:6) “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

But, those who possess The Faith; do believe (or trust) God; and therefore, have Victory in life and in death.