BY GBILE AKANNI
(Living Seed Vol.4 No. 3 Dec 1997)
ome men’s sins are open before hand, going before to judgement; and some men they follow after. Likewise also the good works of some are manifest before hand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.” (1 Tim. 5:24-25).
“These be the names of the mighty men whom David had… Zelek the Ammonite, Nahari the Beerothite, armour bearer to Joab the son of Zeruiah. Ira an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite, Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all” (ll Sam 23:8, 37-39).
One amazing thing that has struck me again and again as I read my Bible over the years is the meticulous care the LORD gives to genealogies; family lineage and the various listings of men (with their descriptions at times) who laboured variously in God’s vineyard. Before the LORD will speak about what a man did for Him, He will first trace his genealogy and trace him to a correct family lineage. Since He is not partial, nor a respecter of persons, He brings out records, even dirty ones to show us the background of men He has used. Most of them could not boast of a wonderful or perfect background, but God converted them and used them all the same. It amazes me that God keeps a meticulous and detailed record of what each man did in His work on earth. He knows and maintains each man’s particulars. A chronicle is being kept of all we are doing in His labour whether good or bad. It amazes me more to discover some names in God’s list of who’s -who in His kingdom, that in my own honest assessment, were not supposed to be listed as great, while some that eagerly and most assuredly expected to be listed first were strategically omitted. Severally, it has baffled me and made me raise questions as regards what God’s rating criteria could be. I have had to take these questions to God in prayer for my own personal heart… I have asked him again and again: “What seest thou in men You use? What makes a work great in Your sight? What do You measure in a man’s work….?” All these have led me to further study the scripture, praying that I, first and foremost may be helped to tread the noble path, that I may not think myself too highly than I ought to and more importantly to understand what pleases Him in any work; and that I may be careful with the way I rate men I encounter in my pilgrimage.
To be honest with you, I have not stopped asking my questions. I keep stumbling at “oddities” here and there and I am tempted to protest… “God, why was this name listed here and the other names deliberately omitted..?” But it has affected my life so far. It has forcefully imprinted on my heart that golden verdict from God unto Samuel. “… for the LORD seeth not as man seeth…” (1 Sam 16:7).
I now know more deeply that God sees not as man sees…. What man seeth and will clap for in another man is actually the outward appearance. We are prone to present or make a show of the good aspects of our lives and homes; keeping away the other side in the “bedrooms” of our weaknesses and failures… We talk eloquently of what is good that man can see, while we make every effort to conceal the heart of the matter which is the heart.
Even in ministry, men print brochures, bulletins, magazines, news report to show the “outward appearance”, victories; breakthroughs (omitting the breakdowns, the break-ups and the breakaways). So, even for you dear man of God, to maintain your supporters, you may be labouring more for the “outward appearance”, putting more effort unto building projects; video taped miracle rallies; large gatherings… such and such that can be pointed to as evidence of a successful, progressive “move” of the Spirit in your ministry. What ever has an “appearance” is what man looks at and looks for… whereas Baba looks elsewhere – the Heart!
Few men there are who cared not for the empty show, which thoughtless worldlings see! The question brethren, friends and colleague ministers are asking you every day is enough for you to change gear and do some thing for them to see. How is the ministry? What exactly have you done? Can we have the “pictures” of it to show to our prayer partners and the men who raise the money? So, you see every missionary is obsessed with photo-taking. Not just for records, but more for “what do appear”. How wonderful it would be if the ‘invisible’ can be printed on the cardboard photo paper or on the film’s screen…
But hear what men who knew God and His taste declared:
“While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (Il Cor. 4:18).
Who among us seek and desire to do works for God which are not seen? Who is content to always have nothing to show men who come tumbling in with questions of “Can we see what you are living for?” Even in our ratings of men, “Great men of God”; “Key men of anointing”, “Firebrand preachers”; ‘king and Prince of Preachers, “Great Expositors” “Anointed General in God’s end -time Army” etc. and etc. are mostly based on that which do appear… We are carried away to call men what God may not have called them, because of outward appearance. It may be all right if others misjudge me and my ministry; if they rate me higher than I am worth… but it is too terrible for me to misjudge Baba’s taste of who can be great in His sight.. and what He esteems highly or disregards in the work He gives me to do. To appear higher than you are worth is to fall headlong in shame: it is to suddenly face an unchangeable reality you least prepared for… it is to meet a disappointment for ever in eternity. ..it is to face shame among men who once clamoured around you and carried you shoulder high…
As the LORD has granted insight into His oracles, I intend to humbly study with you as we search the deep thoughts of God, by the Holy Spirit, what God does rate highly in His men and in their works and what comes last in His grading, lest we major in minors and emphasise what may pass without a comment in His sight.
“And he said unto them, ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your heart, for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God” (Luke 16:15)
We need to take this statement of Jesus as a doctrine or a rule of life. We need to take caution in doing “that which is highly esteemed among men”, Iest we make ourselves and our labours in ministry an abomination in the sight of God. Though, this ought to be a wide study and almost a survey of the whole scriptures, time and space has become a limiting factor… hence we shall illustrate with some few cases from the Old and New Testament. Pray, that as you study along, help may be granted your heart, not just to admire the truth, but to place your life and your work on the line and let the fire burn off the gloss and the dross. Most “dross” of our ministries are made “glossy” such that it so shines forth as if heavens must accord us honour for being so “fleshy” in our outlook…
As a matter of first consideration, we shall use the biographical sketch of Rahab the harlot, David, and Uriah the Hittite, to illustrate this study. I trust the LORD, to grant us illumination, as we glance through the lives and ministries of men foregone, so that we may receive instruction presently and relevantly for our own lives and services in the vineyard.
Rahab, the Harlot
Except for the courageous dedication of Ruth, Naomi’s daughter in-law, that brought her into the family lineage of Judah as she got re-married to Boaz, by whom the LORD brought forth Obed, the father of Jesse, the father of David; little was to be said about Mr. Jesse of the Little town of Bethlehem of Judea. But our God keeps watch over His word; He takes note of men and women who have laid their lives down for Him and obeyed Him, even in obscurity. Men and Women that kept the faith in faithfulness, though unknown to men, are noted by God and He brings them up and out for heavenly recognition as at when necessary. Whoever would remember Rahab, the harlot of Jericho – though a harlot, who pitched her tent at the gates to catch men, travellers who needed lodging, to defile them and send them away wounded? But when she took the bold step to hide two spies from Israel in the ceiling of her roof, because she feared their God and believed their prophecy that He will deliver Jericho and all her people to Israel; God took note of her life. God noted her faith and penned her among the heroes of faith…
“By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace” (Heb. 11:31) She was given a seat among men of calibre like Abraham, Moses, Gideon, Daniel etc…. while men like Reuben, Lot, Esau, loud-mouthed and bogus were omitted . She even got listed in the blessed family lineage of our LORD Jesus. You may want to ask why, up till today is Rahab still being addressed “Harlot Rahab” and yet had a name among God’s generals, while all the self righteous zealots had been long forgotten… Men always attach importance and emphasis to that “outward appearance”. When they know something bad about you; or a physical weakness; regardless of the inward, inner changes that God has wrought, they always describe your life with it… in the same way they use some physical appearance to promote, propagate and propel their “heroes” despite his inner rottenness. Whereas God long ago has overlooked the harlotry of Rahab; she had since married Mr. Salmon, the father of Boaz, the father of Obed, and had continued in faith and holiness… she brought up the godly man Boaz, who at midnight, would not touch a damsel who laid by his feet with a soft soothing tone “spread thy skirt over me”… Rahab had so changed that even her son Boaz, though rich and influential learnt the danger of adultery; men still insisted on calling her not Mrs. Salmon, but Rahab, the harlot. Such is the wrong judgement we make. We place crowns on empty heads and disregard God’s choicest of men, simply because we see not as God seeth. Are you surprised at this? You better prepare for more surprises at the shore of heaven; where many that seem first in our estimate now shall come last in Baba’s rating and the “downthrodden”; the “neglected”, those that seem to have no striking identity or who were written -off, because of their past uneven records we stumbled upon, may be brought to the fore, in the glamour of divine coronation. .. Men who did great works but silently… Rahab, did not lead the battle against Jericho. She did not kill a Goliath; she did not stop the sun and the moon like Joshua… she only by faith, received and preserved two spies; preached the God of Israel to her household, who came in with her into her brothel on the day of destruction; repented from her lucrative business of prostitution; married one quiet Mr. Salmon, who had no particular prospects, except that he was divinely placed in the family of Judah; raised up a son, Boaz, for God…; a contemporary with Naomi, as wives in the same family, she refrained herself from seeking economic asylum in Moab when famine was biting hard in the land of Israel… She must have encouraged her husband Salmon to wait on the LORD, unlike Naomi, who flew upon the prospects of a strange country and gave her two sons to marry the uncircumcised, accursed Moabitess. Though Naomi’s testimony is more popular with us today; she is widely read and eulogised… Her name was not distinguished nor mentioned among God’s heroes of faith…rather God took note of Rahab and Ruth. Men rejoiced and congratulated Naomi and placed the son Obed in her bosom, as her son, Ruth was pushed aside despite her labour, pains and persistent faith in the God of Israel: Naomi was accorded the applause and was told to name even the child …. Good as I seemed, God’s record was different…
“And Salmon begat Booz of Ra’chab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse.” (Matt 1:5)
Even the book that contains the record, the testimony was not named after Naomi… It is called the book of Ruth… it is the book of Ruth not of “Aunt or Mummy Naomi”
Before I leave this silent general Rahab, what do you suppose God is looking at in what you are doing? Several works named after the “men that do appear” always on the stage and on the pulpit… Several revivals are tagged after so called “founders and Presidents”… Books are written about the men whose pictures always “appear” on the posters and handbills… Could heaven be seeing differently? Do you allow men, ignorant of God’s evaluation to place on your laps and in your bosom, the labours of other silent brothers or sister? Do you go away with the “Brain child” of others prayer and intercessions and accept the applause? Have you cleverly taken over other men’s label in ministry; side tracked other servant’s converts and ordained them your “Sons and Daughters” in ministry? Have you stood shoulder high, on the high-heel shoe of pride to claim and drink other men’s sweat? He who is above is above us all! He never misplaces the crown… Or are you discouraged from doing the little good assigned to you, because with men it seems unpopular? Have you abandoned “Mr. Salmon” because, try hard as you may, men still address you “Rahab the harlot”? Are you in despair saying, “of what use is my consecration now?” He who sees in the secret shall reward you openly if you faint not! What makes men great with God is not necessarily great works. It is faithful works, works done with purity of heart and in faith, even if it be just raising a son diligently for God… Are you abiding at your duty post, contributing your labours to the growth of Christ’s church in your generation quietly? Your Father that seeth in secret shall reward you openly…Or do you only get excited about doing, what ‘do immediately appear’, labouring, to be “seen, known and heard” of men? Do you fly upon human applause for every little service you render to God? Are you so restless, that you have abandoned the place of secret service, secret giving, secret praying…going to show thyself unto the world…for no man doeth anything in the secret and himself wishes to be known”? Have you broken away from the ministry of helps and support to some servants of God whom He led you to serve, because you seek a separate work where your name and identity can be known? Have you now carved out a pulpit and a congregation for yourself just to be called “Pastor or Reverend? “…Verily I say unto you, they have their reward” is the Master’s verdict.
“Take heed that you do not your alms before men to be seen of them, otherwise ye have no reward of your father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men…” If Jesus is so concerned about how you do your alms, surely He is much more articulate about how you labour for God… He showed us an example by His own life that we may walk in His footsteps.
Next on our list of selected case studies is Uriah, the Hittite.
Uriah, the Hittite
As the beautiful story of David’s reign was being summarised, in 2 Samuel 23, we find the inspired records furnishing us with a list of the names of the mighty men whom David had in his labours for God. Each man mentioned was acknowledged with great works or contributions made unto the establishment of the Kingdom in the hand of David. They were listed with a brief biographical sketch of their lives and labours. As the list grew, we find some who were mentioned as mighty, but no partucular mighty deeds were attached to their names. Other giants, whose labours appeared visible and notable were strategically omitted, yet these men were given a place among the ‘greats’, without any notable achievement to their credit. One of such men was Uriah, the Hittite. While we may not have access to the full records and may not understand the divine considerations that was made in order to honour him so highly, we shall peep into the scanty story we can gather about him, for our own learning. One thing that looks so common about most of these servants of God, who are highly esteemed in His eyes is that God preferred to keep them largely unknown. Their stories are deliberately made brief in scriptures.
Uriah… the Hittite
Apparently, all we can know for now about Mr. Uriah is that he was an Hittite; who married a very pretty woman – beautiful to look upon. Bathsheba his wife was born to one Eliam, by name a daughter of an oath. We do not have much on our hands as regards his upbringing or his special trade or expertise. All through, he was only known as Uriah, the Hittite. His town of origin seemed to be the only description men could identify him with. Looking closely into the meaning of his name: Uriah or Uri-jah means Jahweh is light or Jehovah is light. This gives a strong indication as to the kind of person he was. A strong believer in the God of Israel, He knew and bore about (by name) that Jehovah is light and there is no darkness in Him. There is nothing a man can do to hide from Him who is light. Uriah, seemingly conscious of his name feared God with whom there is no hide and seek. He is the father of light. No shadow of turning with Him. He lived in the conscious presence of Him who is light. As light reveals all hidden things of darkness and hypocrisy, Uriah is sure, Jehovah who is light could not continue to abide with him, if he walked in darkness. The only way for him not to contradict his name, and to be one with Jehovah by whom he was called was to also walk continually in the light whether at home or abroad; either with colleagues on the battle field or at the palace where there was plenty to eat and to drink. At this point, let me ask you: do you, a believer, tongue talking, Spirit filled and even a minister, walk in the light? Do you walk in such a way that you have nothing to cover or be ashamed of should the LORD beam His light on your privacy? You know and believe that Jesus is the light of the world; and that there is no darkness in Him; but can we boldly call you a bearer of that light. Can you bear “Uriah” as your own name and there will be no contradiction? How many men today live in direct conflict with the name they bear… How many preachers actually walk in dark ways, dark alleys, and dark corners…? No light must be brought into their marital relationship, it will be a disastrous discovery. No light must beam suddenly on the church account, except a long notice is given for the man of God to tidy up the mess!
Uriah was a man, with whom God was bold to identify and be called… Are you? Even if he did nothing extra, apart from bearing that name for God and living that name for God, and honouring God, ever as Jehovah, the light … it was something. Uriah did God proud and by his consistent testimony, silenced the enemy. He gave no occasion for the enemy of righteousness, the prince of darkness and arch-rival of the Light, to blaspheme our God. Drunk, enticed, cajoled by David with all the Royal backing, he refused to dishonour God and walk in darkness. His records in the army were straightforward. All his colleagues at the war front concurred: Jehovah is Light, as they called him Uriah – the Hittite and as they watched his consistent faithfulness even unto his death.
As great as David was, he gave the enemy an occasion to wag his tongue against our God, who is light, up till today… Uriah did not. Uriah laid down an example for several of us, who struggle to joggle facts and figures to escape an ordeal. He was committed to principles and lived faithfully by God’s standard until his death. From 2 Sam.23:34, it appears to me as if Bathsheba was the daughter of Elaim – the son of Ahitophel. Eliam himself was among the mighty men that David had, and was a son to David’s friend and counsellor – Ahitophel. Bathsheba must have been a granddaughter to Ahitophel, David’s colleague and counsellor. It would also appear as if Uriah, by age may just be like a grandson to Ahitophel and by mere inference to David. This is striking, when you think of David taking the wife of his grand son; his very junior officer in the army. Uriah, must have been a subordinate to Eliam – his father in law even in the army of Israel… For David to lie with a grand-daughter and of a bosom friend, reveals the pit that sin can throw any man into. No matter how highly placed a man is, and no matter how highly anointed a man is, once he begins to trifle with sin, he becomes blind, unreasonable and beyond feelings. Only after he has landed in the pit of sin, will his eyes, his ears and his mouth open with the usual cry “Had I known…?” The gravity of the wrong done to Uriah by his master the king becomes more vivid when you think of his age and his in experience. They have not got a child yet… Uriah left his young wife, for the war front to labour for the LORD and for the kingdom… David, the chief custodian of the kingdom himself was lazying about .. and lying about with straying eyes.
Uriah was named a mighty man, though he died like a dog on the battle field. What are the quiet qualities that ‘heavens’ noted about him and rose up to reward? Uriah wrote no book, no psalms; no special song… He was silenced before we could hear his message… He bowed to forces of arranged death before he could hold in his arm a baby by the wife of his youth. He died without a next of kin, to raise a name for him…. David was no next of kin to Uriah the Hittite, yet he grabbed the wife. But God knows how to preserve the name of His faithful servant. Bathsheba was never addressed as the wife of David, but forever called in the sacred records, the wife of Uriah the Hittite… Even, at the genealogy of Christ, God insisted that Uriah’s name be noted…
“And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Uriah’s” (Mat 1:6)
All versions of scriptures (except the paraphrased Living Bible) rendered Matt 1:6, in such way that Bathsheba’s name was baptised into Uriah. Rather than let her stand separately in our Lord’s genealogy as other women mentioned, it was Uriah’s name that must be printed for all generations of men to read about. Somehow, God was placing Solomon as a credit to Uriah though fathered by David. It could even be for Uriah’s Sake that God picked Solomon out of so many sons of David to inherit the throne. We shall proceed henceforth to study few things we can trace of the inner life of Uriah that commended him so highly to God that He gave him such an honour; among the reverend giants…
Uriab’s gems that drew God’s attention
Gems that attract God’s heart towards a man are not decorations that a man wears occasionally. They are character traits, learnt and built over the years of personal growth in His presence. They are often developed through tears and toils of personal consecration and discipline in the word. To live right and walk right, right in the midst of backsliders; to maintain one’s consecration even when elders have broken theirs; to be faithful when there is actual reward for carelessness; meant much more than religious activity…. It must be an in-built lifestyle learnt from God, and engraved on the heart with the fire coal from the altar. Such were the things we discover with Uriah. As I look at this obscure man – obscure, because you never get to hear of him publicly; obscure, because he wore no title; obscure, because he died before any body could discover what actually occasioned his death … except the chief actors of his demise, David and his nephew Joab – my heart trembles at what may disqualify so many big men of God at the last assembly… Look carefully into these gems. Look intently otherwise you may not see it. Look diligently so that your inner eye can catch a glimpse of the strength of the character of this self-effacing servant of God…
“And David sent to Joab, saying, send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David. And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered. And David said to Uriah, go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the kings’ house and there followed him a mess of meat from the king. But Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house, with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house. And when they had told David, saying Uriah went not down to his house, David said unto Uriah, Camest thou not from thy journey? Why then did thou not go down unto thine house? 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” (Il Sam. 11: 6-11)
(l) A man of singular loyalty
I had earlier suggested that Uriah must have left his young wife, just to be at the LORD ’s service. Though excited about his marriage, Bathsheba never became his idol. The wife remained secondary to the LORD’s will in his life. Every young married man who has been out on a long journey will take advantage to first kiss his wife and probably lie with her, even before reporting to the king for official duty. Since he arrived late at night, it would appear all right if he just went home to be with his wife and report in the morning to brief the king. Others may do that, but not Uriah. It looked insignificant, but it matters a lot with God. What is your priority? Who takes first “of your affection; of your devotion; of your provision, of your increase”? Such silent choices’ of the heart speak volumes in God’s ears and spells what a man actually is before God.
Uriah would not first give rest to himself; he would not first satisfy his passion, before he had done his master’s will…even if that master is a backslidden leader. David did not lay a correct example here for Uriah to emulate… why should he be in his own house and on his own bed when it was time “when kings go forth to battle”? Why would David delegate his divine responsibility to Joab, when he was not indisposed of sickness or any impediment; only to relax and over sleep; waking out of His bed at an evening tide, sight seeing upon the roof of his own house. It is understandable for him to live leisurely in pleasure if the whole people of the land were at peace… but there was war in the gate; several men have died; widows of fallen heroes were still mourning; while David, their leader was living loosely.
Uriah refused to change his consecration even though David had abandoned his. Uriah persisted in following what he learnt of the LORD, though a great man of anointing has departed from the narrow path… God was first in his consideration;
“The ark is in the tents; Israel abide in tents; Judah is going through sleepless nights in the open field; Joab my lord, and captain has not slept for days. He had left his own wife; my fellow servants are on the open fields… how can I go into mine house to eat and drink, to lie with my wife,’’ Uriah retorted!
Though Joab was not there and could not have detected anything, after all, the commander in chief permitted him to go home and sleep, Uriah’s loyalty would not allow loose living because men are not there to comment. Sir, O man of God; do you wonder why God will put Uriah in the list and omit your name despite your exploits? Are you this loyal unto the LORD’s cause? Do you set men praying and fasting while you yourself sleep away on the laps of a woman, even if she be your wife? It is more terrible if she happens to be a strange woman. Do you declare a battle against the devil and get men organise your crusades, while you spend the LORD ’s offering leisurely in an hotel watching the TV and the Cable networks? Do you eat and dress big at the expense of a church where majority of your members are struggling to pay their bills? You claim that it is the king that called you into this Banquet because of the anointing on your head and forget the LORD’s cause on the fields…Let Uriah preach unto you again… He was forcefully silenced because he would not compromise, yet heavens are still pronouncing him as one of the mighty generals of the Kingdom…
King David’s offer could not dissuade Uriah from a life of absolute surrender. Sudden prosperity; sudden blessings of food and raiment did not change Uriah’s lifestyle. He remained and slept among the servants of his lord at the gates. He did not exploit the sudden privilege of dining with the king to put himself up and above his fellow servants. He did not muse to himself: “I have started having breakthroughs now… I am beginning to have audience with the Kings… how can I still sleep with servants at the gates.” This is something that must speak to several of us, in life and in ministry. Uriah never changed status because of a sudden breakthrough. Money was no problem anymore; a mess of meat from the king’s table was to follow him … He now had an entourage of men coming behind him… He would have walked majestically to his house to show his wife how the king had highly favoured him… But Uriah would not fall to such a snare as several men are falling today. Some of us think we have become other than mere servants because of the sudden prosperity in our ministries. Some contemplate a new title for themselves… Some now differentiate themselves from fellow servants with whom they grew together in ministry and try to be “a big man of God”… Uriah refused to be different from the brethren. He was a man who could dine with kings and still remain level headed. He knew how to abound and yet how to abase.
“… and there followed him a mess of meat from the king, but Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord…”
Why did he do that? He knew that he himself was just a servant like any of the other servants. Uriah is still speaking to our hearts today… Can we handle the coming outburst of glory without losing our heads?
(ii) A man subject to authority
For several men, authority is something to avoid and if not possible, then just to be endured till they can wriggle their ways out of it. They can quickly obey in order to be left to themselves independently. They are men pleasers, who serve well under the ‘eye’ but relax once the officer looks away. They seek loopholes and weaknesses in the leadership in order to have an excuse for disobedience. They criticise leadership decisions in order to evade their own responsibility. They exploit the least opportunity of the leader’s omission to claim ignorance of what should have been their duty: but Uriah was known for unreserved obedience.
Uriah was summoned back from the war front to meet with the king and not to meet with his wife. He kept strictly to the last command from Joab, his lord. He would find no reason to adjust that instruction. His obedience was implicitly complete at every stage. Uriah did not only obey his leaders, he preferred them to himself. He would not cheat them even if they would not discover it… He would not eat before they ate; neither would he sleep before they took their rest. Uriah would not put off his boots while superior officers were still battling for victory. He kept the vigil till the final whistle was blown, to discharge the entire army; and this he did whether seen or not noticed. Look at his own considerations. Look at why he thought it odd to go and lie with his wife. He was such a selfless man, that preferred the honour of others to his own personal convenience.
The Ark, and Israel, and Judah abide in tents…
His first consideration was for the Ark: the testimony of the LORD was in the field! Who knew whether the Philistines will capture it again as they did in the days of Saul… How could Uriah sleep in His own house and with his wife while the glory of the LORD and His testimony was at stake on the open fields? You can see Uriah’s heart. It was for God’s glory. He would rather stay awake till he had found a place for the ark of the LORD. David was like that at the beginning. David was not going to rest in his ceiled house until he had found a resting place for the Ark of the LORD… but now he had become ‘great’ and could sleep and oversleep while the presence of God was far away in the wilderness. His concern for God’s glory had waned off. He sought for his personal pleasure. He could send men with God’s ark (consequently God’s testimony and presence) while he cooled off on the laps of a woman of the age of his grand-daughter. He saw nothing wrong again with staying back while Israel was faced with death onsite on every side…
Uriah watched the great man of God David drank while men were on the field with bitter cries of wounds and injuries… and he told his heart “Do not follow him to do this evil. Respect him as an elder, but do not follow him to disobey God.” Brother, Sister; does God’s glory bother you so much again? Do you ever care what befalls God’s testimony anymore, now that your little stomach can be filled with the mess of meat? Can you afford now to cool off in leisure, despite souls of men perishing out there…?
Uriah maintained his stand. For three days he was tempted, enticed and tricked to join the careless profligacy of “matured men of God”; “men of repute”; “a man after God’s heart” who has since turned and become “a man after women’s breast”… Men who fasted and prayed over the years who now subtly became glutton and drinkers of assorted drinks… Uriah refused and fought a quiet battle against compromise being flipped at his face by the same man he had respected for years… What will you do, sister? Brother, what will be your choice, when great preachers, your mentors, your disciplers change gear and lower their standard of holiness and say “it doesn’t matter any more.” “Wasn’t I the person who taught you before? There is a new ‘move’ of the Spirit now… Relax and do not punish yourself for nothing.”Uriah had his eves on the glory of God, so he would not disobey Him even with the approval of the highest man over his life…
Israel and Judah abide intents…
A concern for God’s people; a commitment to the growth and welfare of the church would not allow Uriah to break the communion of saints. He would not secretly partake in sin. He knew it would affect the battle adversely. Achan did not consider the church in his time, when he reached out for the accursed thing of Jericho and caused several men of valour to die on the field… but Uriah knew he must not break the covenant of holiness… Whether at home or on the field, a sin will wreck the whole army before the enemy. To the righteous soul of Uriah… “shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink and to lie with my wife?”. Though eating, drinking and lying with a wife in themselves are not sinful… but to a man under authority; there is time for every thing… Any right thing done at the wrong time becomes wrong… Eating, drinking and sleeping with a wife when he should be shooting the arrow at the Philistines was the wrong thing. He would never do such… Beloved, are you seeing the gems that distinguished Uriah? Some place emphasis on activities; on pushing down demons while they neglect little acts of faithfulness; some boast of their power, prominence and prosperity without purity…and hope to stand where the likes of Uriah are being coronated
by our Faithful Father…. Let Uriah speak to your heart. Little foxes spoil the vine, just as faithfulness in little things spurs a man into God’s book of remembrance.
My Lord Joab, and the servants of my lord…
Consideration of the plight of his leaders and colleagues would not allow him to stay off duty. He would not withdraw his services, just to enjoy himself at home. . Uriah thought again and again what could be happening to my lord Joab… “What if I am needed now, my place will be vacant” was all that occupied his dutiful heart. He sought his place in the army. He eagerly stood therein. He laboured without any grudge… He never shrank back from any assignment – good or bad, difficult or simple. He laboured and died in his boot. David urged him, “Get down to your house, and wash thy feet” … How can a soldier man, wash his feet with his boot on? If he must, then he has to remove his boot and sit down: but can a faithful soldier remove his boot while the battle is still raging with bullets flying left and right with several casualties?
Uriah never agreed to a half-hearted service. He slept at the gates in his boots… He was forever on duty… He would never entangle himself with any affair of this life. The instruction to Timothy of the new Testament had been written in the heart of Uriah long before he came to this point in his career:
“Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ… 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” (2Tim 2:3-4).
Uriah knew, he could not please God who appointed him to be in the army of Israel, if he went about to entangle himself with the affairs of this life. He made up his mind to endure hardness. Softness and ease was not his pursuit… He knew his call demanded readiness to suffer… He made up his mind to serve in order to please God. He also decided to serve in a way as to please his commanding officer “my lord Joab”! He decided to serve in a way not to cause rancour among the fellow servants. If others were to hear that Uriah went home to his wife; surely there would be questions and agitation in the mind of others: why was I left here to suffer for nothing? Am I the scape goat of Israel? Their strength would have dissipated in no time: why?. A fellow soldier who walked disorderly brought discouragement to the camp. All this was the matter that Uriah considered and he would not succumb to the pressure of the flesh!
Do you see the quiet gem in Uriah? Beloved brother, where do you stand in this? Are you a stumbling block to other brethren who desire to walk with God on the narrow way? Are you with your looseness confusing the doctrine for the brethren? Do you actually please the LORD as His appointed soldier? Are you not getting entangled with civilian affairs, though a servant of the cross? Are you an encouragement to the brethren? Does your consecration ever remain a fresh challenge to fellow believers? Some men will be cast into the sea with the heavy millstone around their necks, just for living a life that makes others to stumble. They preached, performed great miracles; they played great hymns in great crusades; but dressed, ate, drank in a manner that caused simple-hearted ones to be discouraged and to stumble… Uriah preferred to sleep at the gates rather than cause men to stumble… All good soldiers of the cross will take this to mind and watch their ways. Paul, treading on the same path as Uriah, sensitive to this prerequisite gem unto greatness, bound himself with an oath:
“Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend” 1Cor. 8:14)
He now instructed believers, who desire to win God’s approval as Uriah of Old “Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor anything whereby thy brother stumbleth or is offended, or is made weak.’’ (Rom. 14:13, 19. 21)
Look at this instruction very closely. You will do well to take heed. It was one quiet thing the LORD saw in Uriah and He could not overlook him. He did not kill giants: he did not even win the battle he was assigned to fight. He was actually slaughtered with the sword of the uncircumcised… but God noted this for him. He sustained the whole army by his quiet consistent consecration. He brought encouragement to all the servants who saw him lie with them at the same level…. He proved to them that a mess of meat from the King’s table does not change a man’s status from being a servant. He taught them by his practical life to be content with their duty post. He destroyed envy and ambition in the heart of those servants who thought it robbery not to have been called into the king’s presence for some mess of meat. His life must have sustained the other soldiers on the field of battle. Brother, how do you rate with God? Listen to our Lord Jesus declare God’s standard of measurement:
“Whosoever, therefore, shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven; but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the king- dom of heaven” (Matt. 5:19)
This is one thing God looks for to call men great or least – in His kingdom. Check your life. Check your character. Check your teachings. Check your dressings. Check your emphasis. Check your heart. “How many followers and fellow-heirs have you misled? How many are following your lifestyle thereby living contrary to God’s instructions? Pastor friend, what made Uriah great is this matter. It appears little and insignificant, but it is strong enough to push you out of God’s consideration for greatness.
(iii) A man faithful unto death
“And it came to pass in the morning that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire from him, that he may be smitten, and die” (2 Sam 12:14-15)
Faithfulness was demonstrated almost to a fault in the life of Uriah! He was given his own death warrant to deliver. He was so faithful that he-would not open the letter. He was so full of faith that he trusted completely that David meant no harm. He committed his soul unto “my lord Joab” not knowing they had agreed to slaughter him to cover their sin. Uriah delivered his own death warrant in faith. He accepted his final duty in life by faith…. He believed all his colleagues were behind him, knowing not that they were told to withdraw when the battle goes fierce… He died believing. He died fighting, he died not looking back. He died an hero of faith. His blood poured forth. David thought he got rid of righteousness and felt he had no hindrance again to fulfil his lust. He barely waited for Bathsheba to complete her days of mourning… he made it appear as a Royal help being extended to a widow…
Uriah was silenced but not quenched. God would not allow a great man like Uriah to be killed like a fowl. He stood up for Uriah. For years David never forgot the consequences of cutting short a righteous soldier of the cross. Are you faithful? Are you committed? Are you trust worthy? Or are you simply cutting corners? Are you a man that God who is light can defend because there is no darkness in you? Consider Uriah again… . Let him preach his life unto you. May His message affect you in such a way that little things which make men great with God will become your priorities in Jesus’ Name.
Many there are who have laboured with and for God, waiting for us! Their crowns are being made ready… God who is not a respecter of persons will place each man according as his work. Though we have looked at few quiet men and women, whom God regards as great; what will heaven say about you and about your labours? Whether known of men or obscure, my cry is for you to do that which will attract God unto your life.
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