Some very very very preliminary thoughts on Hebrews 13

The Euphrates is one long river to find one wife.
Jacobs brother is scheming to kill him
and Esau gets all the action, I mean, how many wives does the man need?

And for the man with the bargain birthright, no children.
Not even a chance of possibly doing anything that might lead to children,
except trudge this long river to an unknown land.

Then one night as he lays in the dust
the light shines, the earth breaks open to God
who calls out
"Never will I leave you
Never will I forsake you"
What does Jacob have to fear from man? If God is his helper,
then the stone in the dust will found the house of God

'marriage should be honoured by all'


Israel stands on the banks of the Jordan.
Moses is finished. His speech and his life.
God has offered them everything. Blessed beasts and wombs and bread
Blessed comings and goings in city in country.
But will it be enough? Probably not.
This people cant help but want more. More idols.More land
The pull of wood and stone, silver and gold.
But first those mighty giants must be felled.

and God says
"Never will I leave you,
never will I forsake you
What have you to fear from men? If I am your helper?"

just seven years can pass before you give it all back,
and God will pick a place to meet again.

"keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have"


Which is easy to say if you are Solomon I guess.
Or maybe not, since Daddys plans are pretty grand.
Davids meticulous blueprint sits before him, and he is claiming divine inspiration.
Gee Dad, this temple scheme needs golden bowls and fork, silver lamps and stands. Not to mention rooms and courts and priests and priests and priests.
Who is going to pay for all this place for God to hang? Haven't you seen Grand Designs?
Will Kevin McCloud be smarmy as God and I fight over the budget?
Yet God was pleased to make David king over Israel.
and God says
"Never will I leave you,
never will I forsake you"
What is there to fear from men, if God is Solomons helper?
God will have his footstool. The people and officials will obey your command.

"Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith"

Jesus sits on a donkey overlooking Jerusalem. . Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. The mount of olives trembles as the earth is broken open, and Jesus rides a ladder down into the city, and a light shines upon us. What does he have to fear from man, as the crowds sing Hosannas from the same tune? There's money in the temple, markets in the footstool. A scene, a trial, a cross,
And God calls out
"my God, my God, why have you forsaken me"
as Israel places his cornerstone in the dust.

Never is a long river.
When the scheme is to kill you
When you might just give up
When the price is high.
But it has been walked, and there is a bride, a blessing, a temple