The Short Bed & The Narrow Covering

Isaiah 28:20 For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch
himself on it: and the covering narrower than that he can wrap
himself in it.

This is an odd proverb. What could it possibly mean? Jesus gave a

similar statement that gives a hint of its interpretation, which in
essence answers the riddle.

Matthew 7:13-14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate,
and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be
which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth
unto life, and few there be that find it.

Strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leadeth to eternal life.
Following the LORD into a righteous life requires discipline, thus
the word ‘disciple’. The ideal of the Christian faith is to be
spiritual enough to turn the other cheek when maltreated and to be
forgiving, which is against our very nature. The phrase to ‘walk the
straight and narrow’ comes from what Jesus said in Matthew 7. It
means to follow Christ in his example of obedience to
righteousness. The strait gate is the same as the short bed. The
narrow way is the same as the narrow covering.

Now lets look at the whole setting of our beginning proverbial

riddle.
Isaiah 28:16-20 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I
lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious
corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make
haste.
17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the
plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the
waters shall overflow the hiding place.
18 And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your
agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge
shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.
19 From the time that it goeth forth it shall take you: for morning
by morning shall it pass over, by day and by night: and it shall be
a vexation only to understand the report.
20 For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it:
and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it.

This setting of scripture is a prophecy of the coming Messiah and

the judgment that comes with him. This prophecy was given about
eight-hundred years before its fulfillment. Verse sixteen (16) tells
us of a stone a precious corner stone a sure foundation which is a
prophecy of Jesus Christ the promised Messiah. Verse seventeen
(17) tells us that this ‘stone’ will bring judgment and righteousness
that will sweep away the ‘refuge of lies’. Interestingly lies can be a
refuge. Often people lie to themselves because to face the truth of
their short comings is to painful. Even the most murderous men
can convince themselves that they are good guys. Verse eighteen
(18) tells of ‘the disannulment with death’ which means everyone
will be judged and give account to God for their lives whether
good or bad. Verse nineteen (19) the gospel ‘it goeth forth it shall
take you’ it confronts us and ‘and it shall be a vexation to
understand the report’, vexation means that we are always under
obligation to obey the words of the LORD.
Here is another translation of the vexation clause; (Tanakh
Translation) It shall catch you, every time it passes through; It shall
pass through every morning, every day and every night: and it shall
be sheer horror to grasp the message.

So the short bed represents the word of God, the narrow cover
represents the Holy Spirit, evil cannot abide among these two
foundations of the Christian faith. A person will either follow the
words of Christ or will follow their carnal inclinations. There is no
in between. You can kill the messenger but you can’t kill the
message. Isaiah 28:16 told us about the ‘precious stone’ or the
Messiah to come, our next scripture is Jesus speaking about this
‘stone’.

Luke 20:17-18 And he beheld them, and said, What is this then
that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is
become the head of the corner?
18 Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on
whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on

whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder’. What this
means is that we conform our behavior to what the word of God
says, not the opposite. If not we will be ground to powder. You are
probably saying to your self, Brother John what your saying is
hard! My reply is it is only as hard as you make it. The apostle
Paul also addressed this dichotomy in our next scripture lets read.

Romans 7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which
I would not, that I do.

I want to do good but often I find myself due to circumstances not

able to do good. Lets read the whole setting.
Romans 7:14-24 ¶ For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am
carnal, sold under sin.
15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not;
but what I hate, that do I.
16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that
it is good.
17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good
thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which
is good I find not.
19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would
not, that I do.
20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin
that dwelleth in me.
21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present
with me.
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law
of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which
is in my members.
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body
of this death?

Ah, the bed is shorter than a man can stretch himself on, and the
covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in. The apostle
John in one of his epistles gives us an insight to three
characteristics that plagues our spiritual life.

1 John 2:16-17 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and
the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is
of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that
doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
The lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life, three
good touchstones to examine our lives by.

We need to ask ourselves are we laden down with the cares of the
world? Jesus said in

Mark 4:19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of
riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word,
and it becometh unfruitful.

To have overt concern for riches and the cares of the world is what
makes the bed to short to stretch ones self on. Craving the wrong
things is what makes the covering of God too narrow to wrap ones
self in. Daily as Christians we are confronted by these things. So
we need to find comfort in the things of God. I have always found
comfort in our next scripture. This is Jesus speaking.

Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy
laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and
lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

We need to learn to be satisfied from ourselves. To learn of Him

and find true rest for our souls.

Proverbs 14:14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own
ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.

I have always loved the idea that a good man shall be satisfied
from himself.
Proverbs 27:20 Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of
man are never satisfied.

The eyes of man are never satisfied. When is enough, enough?

Proverbs 19:23 The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that
hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.

The fear of missing God will make us tend to the spiritual things
more than the things of the world.

1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the
world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in
him.

A person cannot serve two masters.

2 Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and

precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the
divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world
through lust.

Being partakers of the divine nature, helps us escaped the

corruption that is in the world.

Psalms 22:26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall
praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.

We need to learn to be satisfied in the promises of the LORD. Too

follow the LORD’S example of being meek and humble.

Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven.
Poor in spirit of the world yet rich in the promises of God.

Proverbs 13:7 There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing:
there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.

Ecclesiastes 10:7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes

walking as servants upon the earth.

Interesting scripture the servants of sin appear to be princes in the

world, but the true princes are those who appear to be servants.
Appearance’s can be deceptive.

When we achieve being satisfied from our selves is when life can
truly be appreciated and adored. We begin to see how precious life
is. We begin to see the wonderment and the mysterious miracle
that life really is.

Here are some more ‘satisfied from our self’ scriptures.

Job 33:14 -18 For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man
perceiveth it not.
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth
upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;
16 Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction,
17 That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride
from man.

The LORD wants us to withdraw from worldly purposes, and to

hide worldly pride from us.

Psalms17:15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I

shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
So bless the Lord, as we have seen the bed is shorter than a man
can stretch himself there on. And the covering is narrower than a
man can wrap himself therein. Our carnal inclinations have no
place in the kingdom of God. But if a person will learn to be
satisfied from their self, they can have wonderful everlasting peace
in the short bed, which is a type of the word of God. And in the
narrow covering which is a type of the Spirit of God. Its only short
and narrow if our priorities are misplaced. Find joy in the things of
God. Amen, may richly God bless you!

Copyright © 2010 J. Wilder & The Wilder Family Trust dated 2/13/04

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