A Timeless Tale

2 Samuel 11 New International Version (NIV)

David and Bathsheba

11 In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem.

² One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful,³ and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “She is Bathsheba,the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” ⁴ Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (Now she was purifying herself from her monthly uncleanness.) Then she went back home. ⁵ The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, “I am pregnant.”

¹¹ Uriah said to David, “The ark and Israel and Judah are staying in tents,^[a] and my commander Joab and my lord’s men are camped in the open country. How could I go to my house to eat and drink and make love to my wife? As surely as you live, I will not do such a thing!”

¹² Then David said to him, “Stay here one more day, and tomorrow I will send you back.” So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the next. ¹³ At David’s invitation, he ate and drank with him, and David made him drunk. But in the evening Uriah went out to sleep on his mat among his master’s servants; he did not go home.

¹⁴ In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. ¹⁵ In it he wrote, “Put Uriah out in front where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die.”

⁶ So while Joab had the city under siege, he put Uriah at a place where he knew the strongest defenders were. ¹⁷ When the men of the city came out and fought against Joab, some of the men in David’s army fell; moreover, Uriah the Hittite died.

A Timeless Tale Of the Rich and Powerful

You all might be wondering if I have gone off the rails a bit opening with the tale of David and Bathsheba.  I confess that I just might have.  However recent events reminded me of how powerful people will do some very devious things to get what they want.  A rather ridiculous and weird news story about the world's richest man...Jeff Bezos, struck multiple chords on my own internal "Organ" (pun intended).

The Bezos "affair" in all it's sordid details, ended with the embarrassing public destruction of his own and his paramore's marriage (and not just his wild texting habits more on that later).  It reminded me of the story of David's infidelity and his willingness to destroy both his own and Bathsheba's marriage (with the apparent willingness? of Bathsheba) and each tale had many parallels.  

In reading about the affair between Bezo's and Sanchez it was apparent that Lauren Sanchez's husband at first was a willing "connection" between the two.  Uriah's loyalty to David (he refused to sleep with his wife because he wanted to be ready to do battle on David's behalf) was rewarded with his death.  The allure of the rich and powerful is persuasive. While the bible does not shine much on Bathsheba's willingness to end up us as David's prize it seemed she was likely a willing "victim".   Likewise Ms Sanchez certainly was willing to give up her marriage for what Bezos' wealth and fame offered.  As to Bezos' loyal wife of 28 years (he is rumored to have spent millions hiding his infidelity) she is at least apparently entitled to some hefty compensation.  

So my first observation is that despite all of our gender wars rich and powerful men will usually get what they want.  Now in this day and age one can make the claim that women are now free to pursue their passion.  However, I am not sure much has changed over a couple of thousand years....only technology.

Now about the "Tweets", and my second observation.

I cannot believe that a grown man of Bezos' background would find it "intelligent" or "pleasing" to send pictures of his "junk" to his mistress, and become "indignant" that it found its way to the National Enquirer.  Heck Bezos could probably get the name and address of every woman who bought 50 Shades of Grey from Amazon.  How on earth was he confident his texts were going to stay "private".  I also wonder what his kids, and perhaps grandkids (someday?) will think of all this.  His attitude and hubris (like David's?)is striking.   So I searched out the prevalence of such behavior in general.

Which brings me to my final Observation:

This from a Drexel University study a couple of years ago, presented to The American Psychological Association

Most Adults Are Sexting and That May Not Be a Bad Thing

August 10, 2015

More than 8 out of 10 people surveyed online admitted to sexting in the prior year, according to a new study from Drexel University’s Women’s Health Psychology Lab. The researchers also found that increased levels of sexting were associated with greater sexual satisfaction, especially for those in a relationship.

“This research indicates that sexting is a prevalent behavior that adults engage in for a variety of reasons. These findings show a robust relationship between sexting and sexual and relationship satisfaction,” said Emily Stasko, MS, MPH, a clinical psychology doctoral student in Drexel University’s College of Arts and Sciences, who presented the research at the American Psychological Association’s 123rd Annual Convention in Toronto on Saturday, Aug. 8.

Stasko and her co-author, Pamela Geller, PhD, associate professor of psychology, OB/GYN and public health in Drexel University’s College of Arts and Sciences and director of the Women’s Health Psychology Lab, surveyed 870 participants from the United States age 18 to 82 to assess sexting behaviors, sexting motives, and relationship and sexual satisfaction. Just over half the participants were women.

Sexting, for the purpose of this study, was defined as the sending or receiving of sexually suggestive or explicit content via text message, primarily using a mobile device, said Stasko. Participants were asked if they had ever engaged in such behaviors.

The researchers found that 88 percent of participants reported ever having sexted and 82 percent reported they had sexted in the past year. Nearly 75 percent said they sexted in the context of a committed relationship and 43 percent said they sexted as part of a casual relationship. Additionally, the researchers found that greater levels of sexting were associated with greater sexual satisfaction, especially for those in a relationship.

The study is currently being submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals. An abstract is available here.

Presentations are available from the APA Public Affairs Office at public.affairs@apa.org.

About the American Psychological Association
The American Psychological Association, in Washington, D.C., is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States. APA's membership includes more than 122,500 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. Through its divisions in 54 subfields of psychology and affiliations with 60 state, territorial and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance the creation, communication and application of psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve people's lives.

 I must say the small sample leads me to "question" the validity of the study.  However, it did not stop the APA from endorsing this as good for our "sexuality"  (as if that is of the utmost importance in life!).

While Uriah's death was likely good for David's sexuality and his "relationship"(and maybe Batsheba's?) I share the Samuel's sense of it all in his final verse

27 After the time of mourning was over, David had her brought to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing David had done displeased the Lord.

As a  common sense morality issue for society in general I wonder where 80% of  our population's (and The American Psychological Association) head is???  Like Bezos apparently up their sexual asses.

Until next time I Bid you Adieu

Next up....

Reader John Del Negro has pitched a topic that intrigues me.....stay tuned