What Really Killed Uriah?

In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. In the letter he wrote, “Put Uriah in the front lines where the fighting is the fiercest. Then pull back and leave him exposed so that he’s sure to be killed.”– 2 Samuel 11:14-15

When we read the story of Uriah in 2 Samuel, usually we think David killed Uriah. Of course that won’t be wrong but when we think deeper about other clues leading to Uriah’s death then we will realise Uriah’s death was a time bomb, David was merely a trigger. 

Let’s look at a few pointers in Uriah’s life. First, when Uriah came back from the battle, David tried everything possible to persuade him to go lay down with his wife at home but he refused, he chose rather to sleep with servants in the palace. On the surface, this may sound like a show of discipline but the question is what kind of soldier knowing that fighting in battle is a 50/50 chance of survival would get such an opportunity and not check on the welfare of his family?

Then Uriah was given his own death note to his general. If he was as skilful as we were made to believe he was, no leader should desire to loose such talent don’t you think? Except of course if he doesn’t really have any active relationship with commander Joab that makes his life worth saving. Joab is David’s contemporary, he could easily lie to the King about how the young man fought valiantly and the plan failed, but why would Joab do that for Uriah since he’s just another soldier whose life matters less than the king’s word. 

Finally, how come his partners didn’t protest the order? It’s what friends do for each other right. Protest and face a court-martial than betray a fellow soldier. No, the bible says “they pulled back and left him exposed…” Uriah did not die because he could not handle the intensity of the battle, but he died because of the betrayal of those who were supposed to support him in the battle zone. His fellow soldiers sold him out. Those who were supposed to cover him, “exposed” him for the enemy to devour him. 

Uriah was a skilful, well trained, and disciplined soldier. He was one of the best in David’s army. But still, he could not fight the battle alone, he needed a faithful team to back him up. It’s not that he was weak or inexperienced, the real issue here is not weakness, the real issue here is that he was ‘alone’

Interestingly, he wasn’t just alone on this battlefield, he has always been alone. As a family man, he fought alone while his wife was fighting the battle of passion alone. The swiftness of  Beersheba’s response to becoming David’s wife after her husband’s death and the fact that she agreed to sleep with David while on her period show something is deeply wrong. 

Strong soldiers have died in the field because they were fighting ‘alone’, strong soldiers have been fatally wounded in the field because of indifferences. 

Dear soldier of Christ, we’re not doubting your competence and your fighting skill we’re just asking you this morning, who is fighting alongside you? Hope you’re not alone?