30 Wisdom SayingsSample

SAYING 11: BE THE DEFENDER

Protecting borders, respecting boundaries, building walls, crossing lines – all are sensitive issues in our modern conversation.  It pushes us to take sides. 

In Proverbs 22:28, the movement of a boundary marker was forbidden according to ancient Hebrew property law. This combined with inheritance law form the basis of Saying 11.  In this text, the orphans are those who had lost parents but had their inheritance of land – and to steal away their inheritance was forbidden.  The orphans were no longer covered by their father’s presence and authority as head of the family, therefore the Law would cover them.  If the Law failed, the community must not fail in protecting the rights of the vulnerable ones.  If the community fails, all must be warned that God himself would defend the rights of those left unprotected. 

God the Defender teaches us how to best be defenders of the rights of all.  We are to respect the property lines.  The boundaries marked off for our neighbor must be honored by all.  As in property so in all dimensions of our relationships we are to honor the boundaries set.   

Be honest in your dealings with neighbors and do not be takers.
Do not be on the wrong side of the fight when God is defending the victim.  Get clued in on who God is defending and go to battle in His fight. Fight the right battles. God was clear in His expectation of His nation, Israel.  They were to be protectors. It is a mighty nation who values the rights of the helpless and unprotected among us. 

It is herculean to defend the one unshielded.  The test of our moral courage will always lie in how we defend those least able to defend themselves.

- Pastor Kim McManus

 ACTION

Defend someone today.  Be the hero.
 

PRAYER

"Defender God, help me know which fight to take on today."