URIAH: FAITH

OF A
FOREIGNER

Lesson 6 for the 6th of November, 2010

The war against the Ammonites ended with the siege of Rabbah.
That involved an important change in David’s the people of
Israel’s lives.
 DAVID, BEFORE RABBAH WAS BESIEGED
How can we know David’s
character studying his
thoughts in the next
circumstances?

Before Goliath Moving the ark

1 Samuel, 17 2 Samuel, 6;
1 Chronicles, 13
With Saul
1 Samuel, 24, 26
With Mephibosheth
2 Samuel, 9

Planning the temple Leading the army

2 Samuel, 7; 1 Samuel, 18: 16;
1 Chronicles, 17 2 Samuel, 5: 6-25
 URIAH, BEFORE RABBAH WAS BESIEGED
HIS NAME

• In that time, the name of a person was related to his character or to

what his parents wanted him to be in the future.
• What does “Uriah” mean? What does it show about his character?

HIS NATIONALITY

• “Hittite” –Uriah’s nickname– meant that he was from Anatolia. The

Hittites ruled a great empire in current Turkey.
• Which were God’s orders in relation to foreigners (Isaiah, 56: 3-7)?

HIS RELIGION

• Uriah was an elite warrior in David’s army and was married to an

important Israelite woman. That meant that Uriah had completely
accepted the religion of Israel.
• Do you remember any foreigner that accepted the Jewish religion and
became a pillar in the people of Israel?
“But it was God’s purpose that by the revelation of
His character through Israel men should be drawn
unto Him. To all the world the gospel invitation was to
be given. Through the teaching of the sacrificial
service Christ was to be uplifted before the nations,
and all who would look unto Him should live. All
who, like Rahab the Canaanite, and Ruth the
Moabitess, turned from idolatry to the worship of the
true God, were to unite themselves with His chosen
people. As the numbers of Israel increased they were
to enlarge their borders, until their kingdom should
embrace the world”

E.G.W. (Christ’s Object Lessons, cp. 23, page 290)

 DAVID’S BEHAVIOUR
David’s fall happened in several consecutive steps:

David used to lead the army when there was

1 a battle. However, he preferred to stay
comfortably at palace.

When he went up to the terrace he saw

Bathsheba taking a bath. Instead of keeping
2 his eyes off her, he took pleasure in an illicit
thing.
He insisted on sinning even when he found
out that she was married.
What options did Bathsheba have
before the king’s request? How did
other biblical characters like Joseph
(Genesis, 39) or Tamar (2 Samuel, 13)

react in that kind of

circumstance?
 DAVID’S BEHAVIOUR
David’s fall happened in several consecutive steps:

David tried to hide his sin; he called Uriah to spend one night with his
3
wife. But he didn’t get him to do that, even making him drunk.

He decided to add murder to his

adultery sin. His conscience was so
4
blinded in that moment that he sent
Uriah to a sure death in the battle.
 URIAH’S BEHAVIOUR
“Uriah had just arrived from the battle front, where the conditions were very
different than in national land. The men of Israel camped outdoors before
Rabbah; they suffered hardship and the rigours of the war, subsisting with
military rations. He left his mates behind; they were living in those hard
conditions, so Uriah didn’t want to take part of all the comfort and pleasures
of life while his compatriots were suffering and losing their life”
(SDA Bible Commentary, on 2 Samuel, 11: 11)

How did Uriah show the next

qualities?
Patriotism.
Loyalty to his mates.
Loyalty to God.
He didn’t benefit from the
circumstances.
His values were strong.
 DAVID, LATER CONSEQUENCES
“There was a great change in David himself.
He was broken in spirit by the consciousness of his sin
and its far-reaching results.
He felt humbled in the eyes of his subjects.
His influence was weakened.
Hitherto his prosperity had been attributed to his conscientious obedience to the
commandments of the Lord. But now his subjects, having a knowledge of his sin, would
be led to sin more freely.
His authority in his own household, his claim to respect and obedience from his sons, was
weakened.
A sense of his guilt kept him silent when he should have condemned sin; it made his arm
feeble to execute justice in his house.
His evil example exerted its influence upon his sons, and God would not interpose to
prevent the result.
He would permit things to take their natural course, and thus David was severely
chastised” E.G.W. (Patriarchs and Prophets, cp. 71, page 723)
 URIAH, LATER CONSEQUENCES
He was faithful to the death.
But Uriah’s story didn’t end there…

“Do not be afraid of what you

are about to suffer… Be
faithful until death, and I will
give you the crown of life”
Revelation 2:10