Both public and private discussion today is about the emotional, political, moral, religious and economic aspects of sex. Unfortunately, the discussion is never about sex in the context of true love. We also often hear from people in Congress that they feel they ought to be held to a higher moral level of conduct when it comes to sex – oops, not to speak of lying! Why should they be held to something higher? Do they mean that it is alright for us to live by a lower code? If they represent all of us, we should all be held to the same high level of conduct.
Many of our political leaders, the president included, are accused of sexual impropriety. While these accusations may be true or false, it is well to remember that the founder of Jerusalem as the capital of a United Israel about the year 1000 BCA was known for gross sexual impropriety, in fact, criminal acts related to sex if we go by our standards (that is, if we have any nowadays). David, who had chased the Jebusites out of their city in order to find a neutral city to be the capital of his newly united kingdom of the 12 tribes of Israel, cast his eyes on his neighbor’s wife, had sexual intercourse with her resulting in her getting pregnant. David, not wanting to be known for sexual promiscuity and for fathering an illegitimate child, tried to invite Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah, to return from war and sleep with her so he, David, could claim Uriah as the father of the child. Uriah, a true patriot, refused to return. So David put him intentionally in the front line to be killed. In other words, David had Uriah assassinated to cover up his sexual misdeed.
The sexual immorality of today pales in comparison to David’s! Yet, David is held in such high esteem by the three great world religions as the founder of Israel, successful conqueror, poet and along with Bathsheba, the ancestor to Jesus, also known as Messiah, Son of God, Anointed Prophet.
One may wonder why? Is it because he repented after he was punished by his god when his and Bathsheba’s child died soon after it was born? Is it witnessed in that his kingdom only lasted two generations and has been in conflict with neighbors and world powers ever since?
We can only conjure up our own answers. Suffice it to know that our history, whether emotional, political, moral, religious or economical, is a story from which we can and ought to learn about ourselves!
Jake Hjorth
Grand Marais
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