Proverbs 23:10-11
A Good Reason to be Honest
1. The first part of this proverb is very similar to Prov. 22:28.
a. In 22:28 Solomon spoke of the ancient landmark. The command was the same: don’t remove them.
2. This proverb builds on that theme and then gives a good reason NOT to do it: because God will stand against you!
3. This proverb gives two commands and two reasons to obey.
THE TWO COMMANDS
1. This part of the command is identical to the wording in Proverbs 22:28.
a. Prov. 22:28 says “ancient” landmark and 23:10 says “ancient landmark,” but the Hebrew words are identical.
b. A landmark was defined as a border barrier; a wall or a stone that marked off a geographical region and served as a boundary line.
c. The fact that these landmarks were old (ancient) means that they had been set in place many years ago.
d. They had been honored and respected for many generations.
e. They had for many generations served their purpose of separating one man’s property from his neighbor’s property.
f. The landmarks were all they had to distinguish which land belonged to whom.
g. If it was moved, you wouldn’t know whose territory you were standing on. You wouldn’t know where you stood.
2. Thus, they were NOT to be removed… or pushed back.
a. And there is only ONE reason for moving them—to lie, steal, and cheat.
b. A dishonest man in those days who moved the landmarks would accomplish two things:
• He would diminish the size of his neighbor’s property
• He would increase the size of his own property
c. A dishonest man could not move a landmark a long distance all at once.
d. That would be instantly noticed and he would be caught.
e. However, you could move a landmark gradually… inch by inch… little by little. That way it would go unnoticed.
3. This was a real problem in ancient times.
a. It was a way of stealing from your neighbor… little by little without being noticed.
b. In principle, it was sort of like the dishonest gas dealer who tweaks his gas pumps so that his customers pay for a gallon, but get a tiny fraction under a gallon. It is so slight, no one notices. But over time, it is very profitable to the dishonest gas dealer.
c. Other businesses use this dishonest method of “skimming” their customers.
d. Rather than robbing a bank and stealing a lot of money from one place in a short amount of time, skimming steals a tiny amount of money, from many people, and over a long period of time. In the end he ends up with a lot of money—just like the bank robber… but his theft often goes unnoticed.
4. However, removing the ancient landmarks in Israel included an addition insult to the injury that does not happen so much in modern “skimming” practices: it was theft from your actual neighbor!
a. Removing the landmark (pushing it back little by little) was an act of theft against your abutters.
b. This was stealing from a Jewish brother.
c. It meant a life of phoniness too. For you were often likely to see that brother when working your fields or at the local market in town.
d. You would have to talk to him and appear to be friendly, all the while you were stealing from him—little by little.
e. You would worship together with this Jewish brother at the sanctuary. You would attend the Jewish feasts and festivals together… all the while you were stealing from him.
f. It meant a life of total hypocrisy.
g. And to make matters worse, you were stealing land from him that the Jewish forefathers of the faith had established in Israel in the days of Joshua!
h. Deut. 19:14 – Moses speaks of boundary lines that were to be set on the land when the Jews went into the Promised Land and divided it among the tribes.
• The boundary lines were drawn up and stones were set in place to mark those borders.
• These had been the agreed upon boundary lines set by Joshua and others.
• Keeping the land of one’s inheritance in the ownership of the tribes and families to whom it was given originally was important to Israel.
• The Mosaic Law went to great lengths to preserve these divisions in the land.
• Removing the ancient landmark was sin against God and a serious crime against the nation.
• Thus, it was FORBIDDEN.
1. This command was not found in Prov. 22:28.
2. The first command forbade them from stealing land from their neighbor.
3. Now he commands them not to steal from the fields of the fatherless!
a. Obviously he means entering their land with evil intent.
b. This might be to steal crops… to rob… or in some other way to enter on to their property in order to take advantage of them.
c. Perhaps more likely those who enter their fields could refer to those who deal in real estate and see an opportunity to make a fast shekel… by offering to buy her deceased husband’s inheritance land from the poor widow and her son for a tiny fraction of what the land is actually worth.
d. If she had no kinsman redeemer to preserve the land for her, a small amount of money is very tempting when you’re hungry and you have hungry kids to feed and no income.
4. The fatherless could either be an outright orphan (no living parents) or the child of a widow.
a. Either way, it refers to someone in a very difficult situation.
b. Remember that in ancient times before Social Security, there was what was called “widows indeed.”
• That referred to a woman whose husband died who had no living family to help provide for her needs.
• This was a woman who was destitute… penniless…
• They were reduced to abject poverty.
c. Thus, stealing from the fatherless would leave both the child and his widowed mother in dire straits.
5. Widows and fatherless (young children) are helpless to defend against such invasions into their fields.
a. They have no one on earth to stand up for them.
b. The woman and her children are not physically able to defend themselves against such invaders.
c. An invader might choose this field to invade because he considers it “easy pickins.”
d. This is pretty cowardly action—grown men stealing from helpless women and children.
THE TWO REASONS
1. Their Redeemer: Goel
a. Goël, means to redeem or to act as “kinsman redeemer.”
b. This term was used to describe God’s act of redeeming Israel from bondage in Egypt.
c. It is also used of a kinsman redeemer preserving the family land for a relative by paying the redemption price.
d. Lev. 25:25-28 – If a man had to sell his land to pay off debts, a wealthy relative could redeem it for him. (Kinsman redeemer). (redeem vs.26 = same word)
e. Boaz referred to this law when he offered the relatives of Naomi’s husband to buy back his land.
2. Their Redeemer is Mighty
a. Mighty: Strong; stout; mighty; severe; firm.
b. The implication in this proverb is clear:
• The widow and her children are weak and helpless.
• They are no match for the invaders on their property seeking to take advantage of them.
• And evidently, they have no earthly relatives able to help them financially.
• They have no kinsman redeemer (like a rich Uncle Boaz) to step forward to defend them and preserve their family farm.
• But although they have no EARTHLY kinsman redeemer, they DO have a Mighty Redeemer in God.
• God is their true Kinsman Redeemer.
• God is their next of kin who will step forward to defend them against the invaders.
• And note how easily the tables are turned.
» Before, the widow and her son were no match for the invaders.
» Now the invaders are no match for the MIGHTY Redeemer, the Lord!
1. HE refers to God – the Mighty Redeemer of the widow and her fatherless children.
2. Prov. 22:22, 23 – Don’t rob or take advantage of the poor or the afflicted, those who are unable to defend themselves.
a. Why? Because God will plead their cause. He will be their defense attorney.
b. And He will SPOIL those who sought to spoil the helpless.
c. It is God’s nature to act this way.
3. It is God’s nature to side with the widows and fatherless too.
a. Deut. 10:18 – He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.
b. Ps. 10:14 – “Thou art the helper of the fatherless.”
c. Ps. 68:5 – “A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.”
d. Ps. 82:3 – the prayer of David: “Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.”
e. Ps. 146:9 – “The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.”
f. He is their father, their helper, their defender, He relieves them, and He pleads their cause.
4. The Lord will defend their rights and avenge those who harm them.
5. And recall that He is MIGHTY.
a. He is in fact ALL-mighty – omnipotent.
b. Omnipotence is on the side of the fatherless and widows.
c. That’s a good reason not to pick a fight with the fatherless.
d. He may not have an earthly father but he has a heavenly Father.
e. The point is that when you seek to take advantage of the helpless, the fatherless and widows, you do so at your own peril. You are no match for God. He is Mighty.
6. If conscience, a sense of right and wrong does not cause the man to rethink taking advantage of the fatherless, perhaps a sense of honor should. But if that doesn’t work—a healthy fear of God ought to restrain this despicable type of behavior.
7. While the exact situations described here may not be something we are confronted with on a daily basis, the principle is certainly applicable in all ages: don’t take advantage of the weak and helpless… and those who cannot defend themselves.
8. God’s care for the fatherless—
a. We have lots of them today! Many children grow up with no father in the home.
b. There should be a special place in our hearts for them… to help…
c. The local church ought to be willing to help such children…
9. The widow and the fatherless children were to commit their situation into the hands of the Lord and trust the One who is MIGHTY on their behalf.
a. If we are being taken advantage of, we should remember this aspect of God’s character. He pleads the cause of those who are being taken advantage of… of the weak and the helpless.
b. I Pet. 4:19 – “Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.”
c. Ps. 35:1-2 – Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me. 2Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.”
d. Ps. 35:10 – “All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?”