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Written by:
Paul thomas
Ireland

Fifty Years and Still Emasculated
Remembering Uriah: The Unsung Hero (Part 1)
Historical documentations whether it be the bible or secular writings sometimes leave certain smaller characters in the shadows of bigger ones or give prominence to certain major occurrences and somehow give insufficient recognition to certain events; thereby making such smaller characters or occurrences inconsequential. Or sometimes historical writers allow posterity the opportunity and liberty to expand their intuitive capability by allowing them to carry out a kind of intellectual lobotomy to historical facts. In such cases it behoves the reader to stretch his/her mind in the quest for deeper insight into the significance of these minor roles and their relationship to the major events.
Uriah is one such minor character in the bible that seem very inconsequential especially when his personality is juxtaposed to that of the main character king David; and rightly so until the characters, ethics and commitment to duty of both men are exposed to the magnifying glass of human conscience. The story of Uriah appears in 2 Samuel 11: 1-27. Uriah the Hittite was a soldier in one of the platoons of King David’s army; whose commanding officer was Joab, captain of the army of Israel a feisty and valiant general but nonetheless a sly character.
Uriah, although possessed no obvious distinguishable traits to make him a phenomenal personality he however had inner qualities of strength and fortitude to qualify him as an impeccable gentleman and a fine officer. Uriah was at war at a time of year when kings go to war but when King David chose to stay at home. David’s indiscretion to stay behind at this crucial time of the year led him to the precipice for which he almost lost everything he worked so hard for. The decisions and the choices we make are the determinants of our lives. Uriah was at the battle ground defending the integrity and dignity of Israel; ready to loose arm and limb for his king; a king that betrayed him; a king who couldn’t care less whether Uriah lived or died. We can learn from Uriah’s philosophy about taking responsibility- whatever your assignment discharge it to the best of your ability.
The book of 2 Samuel: 11, unfolds further the insidious manipulations that occurred. King David looking out through his balcony saw Bathsheba, Uriah’s wife having a bath; losing all sense of dignity and morality he thought of nothing else but a lecherous desire to unravel the mystery of Uriah’s joy. King David inquired from the guards who the lady was and was told she was Uriah’s wife; one of his trusted soldiers presently at war for his nation. Perplexed and helpless with lascivious desires too compelling to resist; he entices her with the paraphernalia of royalty, she succumbs and their lives were never to be the same again. Bathsheba is caught in the labyrinth of power and in the intoxication of its absoluteness. She becomes nonplussed standing before the most powerful man in the world. The ability to resist fizzles and Bathsheba crumbles into the hands of another man forgetting Uriah the man to whom she swore her allegiance and gave her vow of sanctity to. When we give r
oom to wrong desires and allow them to linger we make room for catastrophic consequences. When the emasculating effect of sin grabs a man by the jugular he loses every sense of morality and decency. The book of James talks about the capacity of the mind to conceive lust which ultimately breeds death (James: 1: 13-15) KJV. King David nurtured lust until it engendered death.
Sometimes life thrusts at us certain realities to determine our reactions and beliefs. The last person you would expect to betray another would be King David, considering all he endured in the hands of King Saul. One would anticipate King David to be a practitioner and upholder of justice, fairness and equity. The bible talks about the hardness and wickedness of our hearts. The desperation of the human mind to orchestrate evil and to unleash unimaginable madness is unfathomable. Uriah suffered betrayal and perfidy from everyone he showed loyalty to. His wife betrayed him, his king betrayed him, and his country betrayed him. Like Uriah history is replete with people that have suffered betrayal from the same people they loved and trusted.
Bathsheba discovers she’s pregnant and a lethal cocktail of fear and guilt descends on her. She goes to King David uninvited and unannounced to declare the manifestation of their clandestine act of lechery. King David becomes flustered; pandemonium surges through his entire being. Unfortunately King David’s one night pleasure turns awry. The secret amorous connivance was about to play out in the full glare of the public. The unrepentant King David concocts an ominous plan to have Uriah recalled from battle with immediate effect. With Uriah at the palace at the behest of the king the stage was set for the concealment of the duo’s debauchery. Little did King David know that a single act of indiscretion was about to carry a consequence of a far reaching proportion that will linger for thousands of years.
Uriah is standing before his king and commander, about to be told to betray his principles, ethics and forthrightness. Will Uriah obey his king and accepts his commands or will he maintain his principles and convictions and loose falling out with the king with very dire consequences? In Part two of this article we will explore some of these questions and proffer answers to them. We will also look at what lessons can be learnt from this whole saga.
To be concluded
Shalom
Paul Thomas

Shalom.



Paul Thomas
Ireland

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