How many of us have experienced shock or even trauma after discovering that something we believed for years wasn't true? For instance, I thought ostriches buried their heads in the sand, oh the horror when I realized this wasn't true. Yet this myth had to originate somewhere; ostriches use their beaks to turn their eggs that lay in the sand, so maybe this appearance made someone think they buried their heads in the sand. Too many times, appearances tend to deceive us. Like the appearance that God does nothing when we are deeply wronged or hurt by one of His Generals—you know, his chosen ones. The ones He calls and equips to lead his sheep and carry out His work.
One such general was King David; countless sermons have been preached on him, not to mention how many kids have Bible stories that retell the story of David and Goliath. The shepherd who became a King and was a man after God’s heart(1 Sam 13:14, Acts 13:22). Who doesn't love a good underdog story? But what about Uriah? Even when we recount David’s mistake, we say David and Bathsheba, not David and Uriah. Perhaps it is because Uriah was briefly mentioned in the biblical account, but don't be mistaken to equate his short mention in the Bible to his importance to God. Just because Uriah wasn't a King does not mean he was not one of God's chosen.
How many times have you and I made that mistake? We look at a person’s status in life and assume God thinks the same—or we think God behaves the way mankind does, that is, Kings get better preferential treatment than the poor. That type of thinking is dangerous; we’ve created a fictional character called god based on our dysfunctional thoughts, and then we try to align God with this fictional character. God does not think like a man or judge the way man does; he is the ultimate judge. It is by His standard we should judge, not vice versa. Yet, time and time again, we always fall into the enemy's trap that God sees evil and does nothing. King David is one of my favorite Biblical characters because we can learn much from him, even when he messed up. But this blog isn't about how he repented and God blessed him; this blog is about Uriah and the many who associate with him.
Reading the news, we can both agree that there are a lot of Uriahs out there; how many of God’s people have been hurt by his Generals? Unfortunately, you see so much in the news and on social media that it is becoming the norm. Some of us turn away from the church because it appears that God isn't doing anything, and we conclude, how could a loving God allow his General to continue to hurt others so deeply? But the story of Uriah reminds us that sin does not go unrecognized by God. The decisions we make today will always have consequences for tomorrow. King David is a perfect example of how God dealt with David’s sin (2 Sam 12:9-13). “This is what the LORD says: ‘Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity on you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will sleep with your wives in broad daylight.” (2 Samuel 12:11) And sure enough, his son Absalom rose up against him and took his wives in public. (2 Samuel 16:22)
So yes, God chose David, but he didn't make him sin. And if you say, why chose him if He knew He would sin, then I ask, is there any perfect among us? No, not one. God the Father chose Jesus, His Son, because only Jesus could do what no one else could. Look at all the Kings that came after Saul; some did good, but even the good ones faltered. This is why Jesus is our King, “a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek” Heb 5:6. Melchizedek means King of Righteousness.
Unfortunately, too many times, we believe a man or woman after God’s heart means that they own the heart of God and could get away with wrongdoing; nothing could be further from the truth than that thinking. It is NOT the King that controls the heart of God, but God that controls the heart of the King. (Prov 21:1). To the Uriahs and their loved ones, do not allow the King’s actions to determine if you will serve God. Serve God no matter what comes your way and know that King Jesus, the righteous King of all, will right every wrong.
