Proverbs 23:10-11 KJV
Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless:
For their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee.
The following proverb forms a new whole from component parts of Pro_22:28 and Pro_22:22.:[1]
The subject of removing landmarks comes up many times in the Word of God. Deuteronomy 19:14 places a curse upon any that removed these landmarks (which marked the boundaries of a person's property). Even heathen people recognized the wrong in it. Gill says the Romans even had a god whose job was to protect these landmarks.[2]
In this case the promise is attached to the fields of the fatherless, those who would be unable to protect those boundaries on their own. God becomes their redeemer and protector.
There are times when all of us find ourselves in a position where we cannot defend what the Lord has given us.
Perhaps circumstances have left us in a position of no authority
Perhaps the power of others has overwhelmed our own
Perhaps distance has left us unable to exert our influence
For someone it might be a child who, now being an adult, we are not able to influence them as they appear to be removing the landmarks we placed in their lives
For others it might be a church we used to belong to that has turned a new direction, but we have no influence to turn it back now.
In those cases it is still wrong that those landmarks be removed. We must yield ourselves to the promise of our God. His is mighty and He will plead our cause.
[1] Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament, Johann (C.F.) Keil (1807-1888) & Franz Delitzsch (1813-1890)
[2] See his comments on Proverbs 22:28
Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless:
For their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee.
The following proverb forms a new whole from component parts of Pro_22:28 and Pro_22:22.:[1]
The subject of removing landmarks comes up many times in the Word of God. Deuteronomy 19:14 places a curse upon any that removed these landmarks (which marked the boundaries of a person's property). Even heathen people recognized the wrong in it. Gill says the Romans even had a god whose job was to protect these landmarks.[2]
In this case the promise is attached to the fields of the fatherless, those who would be unable to protect those boundaries on their own. God becomes their redeemer and protector.
There are times when all of us find ourselves in a position where we cannot defend what the Lord has given us.
Perhaps circumstances have left us in a position of no authority
Perhaps the power of others has overwhelmed our own
Perhaps distance has left us unable to exert our influence
For someone it might be a child who, now being an adult, we are not able to influence them as they appear to be removing the landmarks we placed in their lives
For others it might be a church we used to belong to that has turned a new direction, but we have no influence to turn it back now.
In those cases it is still wrong that those landmarks be removed. We must yield ourselves to the promise of our God. His is mighty and He will plead our cause.
[1] Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament, Johann (C.F.) Keil (1807-1888) & Franz Delitzsch (1813-1890)
[2] See his comments on Proverbs 22:28
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