Bathsheba Syndrome

Hello, everyone, welcome back to the podcast. Today we're talking about Bathsheba Syndrome, using King David's story as the basis for the discussion.
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Hello, everyone, welcome back to the podcast. I think today’s podcast may have a little different feel. It is one that I hope will serve as a warning. I’ve been told by one of my fellow pastors at our church that my preaching style is more like that of a shepherd while others on our staff are more like that of a prophet. I think my role today is going to be a little more like a prophet who is sending out a warning and the warning I want you to hear is that pride comes before a fall. We’re going to get into that scripture and others like it, but we’re going to start with an academic paper. Don’t worry, I’m not veering from God’s Word. God’s Word is going to be the primary source for our discussion today, but I remember reading this article as I was doing sermon prep years ago, and it stuck with me how much truth is in this. We see it modeled in scripture and echoed in leaders all around us.
The Bathsheba Syndrome by Dean Ludwig and Clinton Longenecker.. Professors at U of Toledo. I want to read an abstract from the paper, summarize it, and then dig into scripture.
Success not Competition
The hypothesis of the Bathsheba syndrome is that many moral and ethical failures by those in positions of power are the result of success, not competitive pressure. It was after King David had achieved success and relative peace in his kingdom that he abandoned procedural norms which led to his sin with Bathsheba. Prior to this, David had multiple opportunities to take matters into his own hands in regards to his kingship, but instead, chose to submit to God’s boundaries and trust in his timing.
1 Samuel 16:1-13 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”2 But Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.”The Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.”4 Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?”5 Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.”7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” 9 Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.” 10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”
“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”12 So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features.Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.
1 Samuel 24:1-22 After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the Desert of En Gedi.” 2 So Saul took three thousand able young men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats.3 He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave. 4 The men said, “This is the da...