I stepped out of the giant brown door of the main entrance, into the ample veranda. A slave followed closely behind me, the King had sent him with food for me. I collected the package and dismissed him. I looked around, taking in the grandeur of the palace, the lavish sprawl of art. To the far left of the veranda were slaves lying, I strolled to where they were and lay supine beside them. The coldness of the marble floor seeped through my tunic and into my back, my muscles ached.
 
All the way from the battleground to Jerusalem, I wondered why the king would summon me. When word was sent to him that I had arrived, he asked that I be brought before him. He asked after the troops and Joab, I told him all was well. He wanted to know how the war was going. I told of how we had taken down many Ammonites and how we were besieging Rabbah the metropolis of Ammon. I expected him to be more excited but it just seemed he asked for the sake of it, he really didn’t seem interested. At least not as much as I expected him to be.
 
“Go down to your house and wash your feet.” He had said, dismissing me.
 
Far be it from me! I had thought.
 
I sat up against the wall, pulled the food pack closer and munched ravenously. I didn’t realize how hungry I was until the aroma of the kingly meal wafted its way into my nostrils.
 
I was done with the meal in no time. I tossed the empty pack into the trash and as I walked back to the spot where I laid, pain racked my body. The battle was really strenuous and if there was anything I craved at that moment it was a massage and good body wash. I could still smell blood, sweat and mud on my tunic. Both desires would be satisfied if only I rose and went down to my home. Bathsheba would be there to give me a warm, refreshing bath and knead my cramping muscles with her tender hands. Ah, and most likely I would’ve taken a bite from her lush, heavenly body. I drew a deep breath and let it out through my lips at the thought. Would she ever cease to excite me? To say that my wife was beautiful would be an understatement. She was any man’s desire and my pride. Yahweh bless Eliam for giving me her hand in marriage.
 
But I couldn’t go over to my house. I couldn’t go to enjoy the comfort of my bed while my fellow troopers were out there in Ammon, lying on the bare floor. I couldn’t go to lie with my wife, while my lord, Joab lay alone in an open field. No!
 
Somewhere in between my thoughts, I fell asleep. Upon hearing the gentle tap of a man’s feet on the ground, I rose with a start. As a trained soldier, I never slept deep. My eyes swept around and only rested when I saw the approaching person.
 
“Oh, my lord it is you.” I said bowing my head and rising to my feet.
 
“Did you not come from a long journey? Why did you not go to your house?” The king quizzed.
 
“The ark of Israel and Judah are dwelling in tents, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are encamped in open fields. Shall I then go to my house to eat and drink, and lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing.” I replied.
 
A brief moment of silence elapsed before the King exhaled and said; “Wait here today also, and tomorrow I will let you depart.”
 
And thus I remained in Jerusalem that day and the next, all the while not going over to my home.
 
****
 
I plodded clumsily down the hallway that led out of the king’s chambers, my head swimming. He had just treated me to a grand dinner and oh, the wine was good. A butler stood by me at the king’s command and no sooner had my goblet got empty than he replenished it. I walked over to my couch with the king’s servant, landed on it and snored my way to the dreamland.
 
The next morning, the king sent me back to the battleground with a letter addressed to Joab. I was able to stow the itch of my curiosity to tear the seal and peek into the letter. That was how I faithfully took my death sentence to my executor.
 
 
****
Uriah denied himself well deserved pleasure for the sake of his commitment to his kingdom when no one else seemed to be watching and even when the king urged him to indulge his cravings, he wouldn’t budge. His commitment was so strongly ingrained in him that nothing, not even much wine go wipe it off.
 
Now, the question is; just how committed am I to the Lord’s kingdom? Am I fighting the good fight wholeheartedly? Uriah was so faithful to a fallible human king, am I even half faithful to an unfailing eternal King?
 
There’s a line of a hymn that I feel describes Uriah just perfectly, it says ‘I’d be a true soldier, I’d die at my post.’
 
If it’s possible to be faithful to a fault, then Uriah the Hittite was.
 

9 Comments

  1. Even if it mean death, we shouldn’t bow to another alternative choice, we should stand firm on our convictions and faithfulness to the kingdom. When sinner entice do not consent!. Have a lovely day

  2. Uriah wasn’t even enticed to sin, he was already married but denied himself the pleasure because he felt he his duty wasn’t over. That is self discipline!

  3. Uriah was a true soldier that exemplifies the words of the hymn. As I read the story, I saw him in a new light. I saw a man who held strongly to his ideals despite the fact that the king was the one urging him to go against them. Thanks for sharing, dear brother. God bless and increase you. Amen.

  4. I am seeing loyalty to God under your God given leader not necessarily in their presence you obey God under them,and see every other persons word as an advise which is not compulsory to be followed. That’s how Uriah saw the king’s word not as an authoritative word that must be followed but an advise to be submitted to the holy spirit for proper analysis. May the the Lord help us not to babies toast here and there by human philosophy.
    God bless you (our uncle Goodness) more insight in Jesus name.

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