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Commentary on "Uriah: Faith of a Foreigner"
Day 6: Thursday, November 4, 2010 - A Man of Principle
Overview
In a return to the initial contrast between David and Uriah, today’s lesson points to the similarities between David’s faithfulness and obedience to God when he spared Saul’s life with Uriah’s similar faithfulness and obedience to God in carrying out his battles on the battlefield. Uriah’s faithfulness was evident in his refusal to enjoy his domestic life, preferring instead to hold the lines in battle. David’s attitude in the past is contrasted with David’s current failure in understanding Uriah’s devotion.
Observations
Finally, the lesson brings David’s repentance expressed in Psalm 51 and 2 Samuel 11 into the picture. Nevertheless there is no connection made between this repentance and the substance and subject of today’s lesson. It’s a question written outside the context. Since David’s repentance had been discussed previously, the reader is directed to the commentaries of the previous days.
Still, there are some things worth mentioning at this point. God reminds David about His goodness toward him and brings David to repentance. The contrast between David’s lack of fidelity toward God and Uriah’s fidelity to God in carrying out God’s battles makes evident how important gratitude is for true obedience toward God. Uriah was grateful for God’s grace manifested toward him, grateful for God’s making himself part of his covenant chosen people when he was a stranger to the covenants of promise (Ephesians 2:11,12). Nevertheless, God still graciously accepted him into the covenant.
David, on the other hand, forgot the mercies of God and, instead of waiting for God to give him what he needed, took what he considered his right as a king. Instead of having a promise-driven life, David opted for a purpose-driven life in which he was the one working to fulfill his needs and goals. His need was to be brought again to a promise-driven life, a life oriented toward God’s sure promises whose fulfillment is guaranteed by the promises already fulfilled.
Copyright 2010 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised October 30, 2010. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Glendale, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.
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