Sermon Notes + 6.8.2025
Uriah the Hittite and High Places
1 Kings 15:5, 14
Dr. Tony Chute, Lead Pastor
Overview: Each king in 1-2 Kings is evaluated according to the moral standard depicted in the life of David, who is described as a man after God’s own heart. According to this standard, kings in the north (Israel) are universally bad kings; kings in the south (Judah) are a mixture between bad and good kings. Simple as these categories may seem, they are not designed to speak comprehensively about a king’s actions or impact. To say that a king’s heart was not wholly true to the Lord is not to say that everything he did was worthless or wrong; it is to say that he failed in the area that mattered the most. To say that David was a man after God’s own heart is not to say that David lived a life of perfection, as demonstrated by the matter of Uriah the Hittite. To say that a king did right in the eyes of the Lord does not mean everything he did measures up to model behavior, as indicated by Asa’s failure to remove the high places. And yet, the categories and evaluations serve the purpose of helping us deal with our own successes and failures in light of the finished work of Christ and the ongoing work of the Spirit in our lives.
01. The best person who is not a believer is a failure before God. We can thank God for common grace without minimizing the need for special grace.
02. The best Christian who fails spectacularly is still forgiven by God. We can embrace struggling Christians in the same way the Lord embraces us.
03. The best Christian who overcomes several sins will still struggle with other sins. We can join this fight together as we press on toward the goal in Christ Jesus.
FOR DISCUSSION & DISCOVERY
1. If you were to describe the life of David to a non-Christian, what would you say about him? If you were to describe the life of David to a Christian, what would you add to or change about the story? How does David’s life compare to our own in terms of having a heart for God?
2. Think about the phrase “except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite” in verse 5. Why did the author of 1 Kings include this piece of information? Do you think David’s conscience continued to remind him about the matter of Uriah the Hittite even after David asked God for forgiveness? How can we deal with past sins that have been forgiven but still plague our minds today? See Psalm 51 for further insight.
3. Read the summary of Asa’s life in 1 Kings 15:9-24 and 2 Chronicles 14-16. In what ways does Asa demonstrate a heart for the Lord, like David? In what ways does Asa’s heart seem to veer away from the Lord? Why does the author finally conclude that Asa’s life was “wholly true to the Lord all his days” (v. 14)?
4. Building upon the previous question, we should agree that the Bible is correct in its assessment of us, but we are often mistaken in our assessment of others. How can we be discerning when it comes to human character and behavior while also remaining open to the fact that only the Lord truly knows the heart? How can we be more forgiving and readier to embrace believers who have fallen into sin? See Galatians 6:1-5 for further insight.
5. After this message concluded, we observed the Lord’s Supper. How does the promise of God to a fallen person like David remind us that God will keep all of His promises made through Jesus Christ? Take time to consider how gracious the Lord is to those who truly trust in Him for salvation.
For Further Reading: Sam Storms, A Dozen Things God Did With Your Sin – And Three Things He’ll Never Do. (Crossway, 2022).