(2Sa 11:16) “And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were.”

Uriah the Hittite was the husband of Bathsheba; and he was numbered among the Mighty Men of Valor of King David’s mighty men. He was a mighty warrior in King David’s army. He was not the average soldier – but a Mighty Warrior.

King David summoned Uriah from the battle front to cover up David’s sin of adultery with Uriah’s wife. (The background of this story can be read in 2 Sam. 11:1-6.)

When Uriah arrived back to see King David; David enquired of Uriah how Joab, David’s general, was; how the people were; and how the war prospered (2 Sam. 11:7). After his questions to Uriah, David told Uriah to go down to his house and wash his feet (2 Sam. 11:8). David sent Uriah down to his own house in hopes to cover his adultery with Uriah’s wife. But, Uriah did not go down to his own house and be with his wife; instead Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord (2 Sam. 11:9).

When King David found out that Uriah did not go down to his own house, but slept outside of the king’s house; then David questioned Uriah as to why he did not go down to his own house. Uriah gave his king the answer in (2Sa 11:11) “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.”

King David’s cover-up plan did not work. So, David came up with a new plan to have Joab put Uriah in the hottest part of the battle so he would be killed. David’s final plan to cover up his sin of adultery with Uriah’s wife eventually led to Uriah’s death on the battle front later when he returned and was assigned by Joab to the place in battle where the greatest causalities occurred. David’s sin of adultery and murder were later manifested by Nathan the prophet before all Israel (Numb. 32:23).

However, this devotion is not about King David’s sin and cover up and revelation of the same. But, this devotion is to note the characteristics of a hero, that is a faithful soldier of Jesus Christ, using Uriah the Hittite as the example.

The first characteristic is Uriah was not only a soldier for King David; but, Uriah was one of the thirty-seven Mighty Men of Valor for David (2 Sam. 23:8-39). 2 Samuel 11 relates that as a soldier of the king, he was in the battle at the time of David’s summon for him to come back home. Being and knowing that you are a child of God, the first thing you need to know is that you are a soldier of Jesus Christ. He is the King and you are His servant; ready to obey His every command.

See (2Ti 2:3) “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. The key words are, “endure hardness…as a good soldier.” The good soldier never complains of his assigned task. He knows as a soldier he is expected to engage the enemy. This is not a point of discussion on the battle field; for the soldier knows his place and his duty.

So it is with a child of God. He knows the enemy; and he knows the plan of action; and he knows what he must do at all costs. He knows that the war between his flesh and his spirit is not an easy war; but is filled with submission to the Commander and to His commands. He knows when he obeys Christ, there will be a war between light and darkness. But, he knows who he is; and he knows where he is; and he knows what he must do against the enemy, and that is to slay, or destroy, the flesh. The Apostle Paul called it “mortifying the flesh” (Col. 3:5-10; Rom. 8:13). So, not only a soldier; but to be a “good soldier.”

The second thing is a soldier must be a loyal servant to his commander always in every situation. (2 Tim.2:4) “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” Uriah was completely loyal to King David, to Joab his general in the field of battle, and to his fellow soldiers in the field (2 Sam. 11:9-11). Note (2Sa 11:11) “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…”

The good soldier of Jesus Christ must be single-eyed to Christ, and to Him alone. Christ, the soldier’s Commander, must come before anyone or anything in the soldier’s loyalty. Read Lk. 14:26-33. In this scripture, Christ explains the cost of discipleship. Here Christ reveals that He comes before family, wife, even the soldier’s own life. The faithful soldier cannot have a split loyalty; Christ must be first and not second in anything (Mt. 6:24). Many times, the child of God will be tempted to give in to his flesh. King David tried a second time to get Uriah drunk and send him down to his own house the second night he was back. But Uriah stood firm and went to bed where the king’s servants slept (2 Sam. 11:13).

The third thing is a soldier must trust his king explicitly (or totally), without reservation, knowing that the king has good and not evil for him. Even though the soldier does not, or may not, understand the reasoning behind his marching orders; he does not question his commander; but, obeys without question. The reason being is the soldier knows his Commander – and his Commander is Jesus Christ, his all in all, his Provider, his Protector, and his Power. David sent Uriah’s death sentence back to Joab in a letter, instructing Joab to place Uriah in the hottest part of the battle, and then retire from him so Uriah would be killed by the enemy (2 Sam. 11:14-17). Uriah trusted his king. And the soldier of Jesus Christ must, and will, trust King Jesus with his life; knowing that Christ only has good for him, in life and even in death (Rom. 8:28).

The attitude of the good soldier of Jesus Christ is (David is only a type of Christ here as Uriah’s commander) (Php 1:20-21) “According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, 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.”

The good soldier of Jesus Christ has no fear that King Jesus is against him; for he knows in life, or in death, Christ knows best for His servant.

Uriah the Hittite was killed in battle, as King David had hoped. One might say, ‘It looks as if King David won, because he got Uriah’s wife, and got to live many years after his sin.’ But, on King David’s part, “…the thing that David had done displeased the LORD” (2 Sam. 11:27b); and the sword never left the house of David; yet, God put away his sins of David’s adultery and murder that he would not die (2 Sam. 12:7-13).

But, on Uriah’s part; his record was spotless. His record was full of faithfulness, loyalty, and trust. His task was complete; his course was finished; and he went into the very Presence of Christ, and into the “joy of the Lord.”

(2Ti 4:6-8) “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. (7) I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:(8) Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

(Mat 25:21) “His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

The hero of this story is not King David; but the king’s servant, Uriah the Hittite, the Mighty Man of Valor; who was faithful to his king unto the end. Uriah knew when Joab assigned him to the forefront of the battle, that the end could be very close; but, he did not refuse the command; but, obeyed the command of Joab. Uriah could say as the Psalmist wrote, (Psa 23:4) “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me…”

Who are you child of God? Are you a Uriah or a David?