THIRTY SAYINGS OF THE WISE
SAYING NUMBER NINE
Again we are warned about removing a
boundary stone and encroaching on the property of others – probably the
vulnerable and defenseless (e.g., see 22:22-23, 28). “Do not move an ancient boundary stone or
encroach on the fields of the fatherless, for their Defender is strong; he will
take up their case against you.” (Proverbs 23:10–11, NIV)
Because of the inclusion of the
"fatherless" and the implication of a court procedure, ". . .
the movement of the boundary stone is not something surreptitiously done but is
an open seizure of another family’s land, perhaps through the courts."[1] "Yet they have a strong “Defender,” a kinsman redeemer (goʾel),[2]
who will take up their case (rib);
the rib is a controversy or wrong
that must be set right."[3]
"The goel among the Hebrews was the
nearest male blood relation alive. Certain important obligations devolved upon
him toward his next of kin. (1.) If anyone from poverty was unable to redeem
his inheritance, it was the duty of the kinsman to redeem it (Lev. 25:25, 28;
Ruth 3:9, 12). He was also required to redeem his relation who had sold himself
into slavery (Lev. 25:48, 49)."[4]
The law systems in Israel were intended to
protect the vulnerable. This Proverb
warns that those who do not respect that will find themselves squarely against
the law. "He who invades the fields of the fatherless in order to enlarge
his possessions will learn to his sorrow of the power of their
kinsman-redeemer."[5]
The implication (in the English texts)
because of the capitalization of Redeemer/Defender is that if there is no human
court of appeal that God Himself will deliver and those that take advantage of
the weak will find themselves confronted with Jehovah God.
" God is Israel's Redeemer, the one
who will defend and vindicate them. The idea that God is a kinsman to Israel
can be defended by those passages of Scripture that identify him as Israel's
Creator and Father ( Exo 4:22-23 ; Deut 32:6 ),Deliverer ( Exo
20:2),owner of the land ( Lev 25:23 ), the one who hears innocent
blood crying out for vengeance ( Deut 19:10 ; 21:6-9 ), and
the King who has made his covenant with the people ( Exo 6:2-8 )."[6]
Christ is portrayed in the New Testament as
our Kinsman-Redeemer, our glorious brother (Heb 2:11). Paul, in writing to the Thessalonians made
this sobering pronouncement:
“All this is evidence that God’s
judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of
God, for which you are suffering. God is just: He will pay back trouble to
those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as
well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing
fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do
not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting
destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of
his might on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be
marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you
believed our testimony to you.” (2 Thessalonians 1:5–10, NIV)
God is clearly on the side of His
people. Justice will come to those of
Christ's family that are harmed and unfairly treated. “What, then, shall we
say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”
(Romans 8:31, NIV)
[1] Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 1174). Wheaton,
IL: Crossway Bibles.
[2] The goʾel
is one who steps in on behalf of the family to execute some sort of
responsibility of redemption by paying a debt (Lev. 25:48ff.), buying back land
(Lev. 25:25ff.), exacting a debt, avenging blood (Num. 35:12ff.) or, in the
case of Yahweh, redeeming those who are in trouble (cf. Job 19:25; Jer. 50:34).
[3] Koptak, P. E. (2003). Proverbs (pp. 546–547). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
[4] Easton, M. G. (1893). In Easton’s Bible dictionary. New York:
Harper & Brothers.
[5] Hindson, E. E., & Kroll, W. M. (Eds.).
(1994). KJV Bible Commentary (p.
1240). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
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