There are a lot of beds in the Good Book and a few things about order too.
I have to tell you, I get surprised a lot by what’s in the bible. If you read already that I’ve decided to quit NOT making my bed in the morning you’ll know that the accomplishment and order of it all get my day off to a good start. So it makes sense that I’d look to the bible for verses about the order of things, and they’re there. I like 1 Corinthians 14:33 a lot because it makes sense: “For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints.” I think you’d have to be a pretty big, nasty person not to be for peace; that’s not me.
I like to think that I’m a little more elevated than those that love war but the book goes further. In verse 40 of the same chapter it says, “But all things should be done decently and in order.” Again, couldn’t agree more. Order’s good.
Timothy 3: 4-5 puts it this way: “He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?” Timothy makes a valid housekeeping argument, but then I started to look for anything specifically about keeping your bed made and where I thought there would be scarcity, holy cow was there abundance!
Now to be fair a bunch of the references had to do with who was in bed with you (the marriage bed) which is more important than how the covers are arranged when you’re not there. However, Isaiah 28:20 said, “The bed is too short on which to stretch out, and the blanket is too small to wrap oneself in” which, if you’ve ever been in a poorly put-together bed you can completely identify with. Then there were references to people on sick beds and death beds who Jesus healed or brought back to life. One of the more often referenced stories was when one guy’s friends lowered his bed down into a house where Jesus was for the express purpose that Jesus would heal him. (Of course, he did) Then there was the reference from Isaiah 57:7 about making your bed on a high and lofty mountain and people not getting out of bed late at night to give their friend bread for his guests. So many bed references I couldn’t believe it. There were people singing for joy from their beds (Psalms 149:5) descriptions of the king of Bashan’s bedstead (Deuteronomy 3:11) and sick beds that couldn’t be made clean (yuck) in Leviticus 15:6. Clearly the bed was associated with a ton of things in the bible. In fact so many that I was a bit overwhelmed.
And then there was this from Job 7:13: “If I say, ‘My bed will comfort me, my couch will ease my complaint.’ And everything seemed to sort of fall into place. Although there are many, many different kinds of beds (sick, death, marriage, etc.) the intent is that “bed” be a symbol of rest and not one of annoyance. Making my bed can cut out the latter and at least imply the former, which is something we can all use in our busy lives. So, I’m making my bed from now on, even though I will almost assuredly lie in it within 17 or 18 hours because when it’s made it becomes a plus rather than a minus in my day and that, along with a few timely scriptures, can make all the difference.
I like surprises. Who would have thought that there would be so many about beds in the bible? If you liked this little diatribe I hope you’ll share it with a friend.
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