Neville Turley

“Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” Ephesians 6:13 (NIV)

In many parts of the world today, people will observe two minutes silence at 11 am.  This gesture of respect commemorates the end of world war one, one of the bloodiest wars ever fought.  By the time hostilities ceased military and civilian casualties totalled 38 million.

It is an appropriate day to focus attention on Uriah the Hittite. Uriah was one of 30 chosen men who, under Joab, commanded King David’s army in the war against the Ammonites.

Whilst Uriah was away fighting, David had an affair with Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba, who became pregnant. Fearful of the repercussions (adultery carried the death penalty – Leviticus 20:10) David asked Joab to send Uriah back to Jerusalem. To David’s consternation, the conscientious Uriah, once he was back in Jerusalem, refused to sleep with Bathsheba. “Uriah said to David, ‘The ark and Israel and Judah are staying in tents, and my commander Joab and my lord’s men are camped in the open country. How could I go to my house to eat and drink and make love to my wife? As surely as you live, I will not do such a thing!’”(2 Samuel 11:11)

David tried his best to change Uriah’s mind and plied him with drink until he was intoxicated then he sent him home.  However, Uriah did not go, instead he slept on a mat among the king’s servants.

Realising his plan had failed, David orders Joab to include Uriah in a suicidal attack against the enemy.  Joab complies and Uriah is killed.

Uriah was a principled soldier with a clear set of priorities which he placed before his personal desires. Let us never forget that we too, are part of the Lord’s army.  Our responsibility is to don the full armour of God (Ephesians 6:8) and serve the Lord Jesus Christ who laid down his life for us. God grant us the discipline to do so.

Prayer: Merciful God grant us peace in our country and among our people. Help us to overcome the forces of evil raging in our own heart also so that we may serve you fully and faithfully to our lives end; through Jesus Christ our Lord  Amen