PROF. BEN ONYEUKWU (REV.)
NCE (English); Dip (Computer Studies); ND/HD
(Journalism); Dip, BA (Theology) MA, PhD.
Devotional Text: Deut. 19:14;
27:17
Introduction:
“Remove not the ancient landmark” (Prov.
22:28) is a vivid biblical instruction for boundary rules. Adam Clarke
amplifies this, as he says, “Do not take the advantage, in ploughing or
breaking up a field contiguous to that of your neighbour, to set the dividing
stones father into his field, that you may enlarge your own. Take not what is
not your own in any case. Let all ancient divisions, and the usages connected
with them, be held sacred”. And, according to the book of Deuteronomy 27:17,
“cursed be he that removes his neighbours landmark, and all the people shall
say, Amen!
GENERAL REMARKS
(1)
The
Scripture enjoins that we should not remove the old landmark as a way
of
encroaching into the field of the fatherless, (Prov.23:10)
(2)
The
Scripture, also tells us not to remove our neighbour’s landmark, which
they
of old time have put in place, (Deut. 19:14)
(3)
The book of
Job shows that some wicked people remove landmarks, and violently
take what does not belong to them, (Job
24:2-4)
(4)
The
Scripture equally evokes curse on anyone who removes landmark to his own
advantage, (Deut. 27:17).
LANDMARK AND THE PLOT OF YOUR
NEIGHBOUR
Before the extensive use of fences, landed
property was marked out by stones or posts, set up to ascertain the divisions
of family estates. For, it was easy to remove one of these landmarks, and set
it in a different place; and thus the dishonest person enlarged his own estate
by contracting that of his neighbour. In view of this, the Law of Moses came
into effect, to checkmate the encroachment of the dishonest persons into
estates which are not theirs, and to ensure that every boundary adjustment is
officially and legitimately done, considering population growth. Based on the foregoing,
this lesson asserts that the ban on the removal of landmarks came into effect
to:
(i)
Check the
encroachment of dishonest persons into the estates of their neighbours, (Lev.
19:14)
(ii)
Ensure the
legitimate and official transfer of the ownership of landed property, when the
need arises, (vs. 14)
(iii)
Bring to
justice those who may violently take estates which are not theirs, (Job
24:2-4).
LANDMARK AND THE PLOT OF THE
FATHERLESS
God is the Father of the fatherless, and
anything done to hurt them, is a serious offence against Him, (Psalm 68:5).
Therefore, to encroach into the field of the fatherless attracts the heaviest
curses from the Lord. Thus, the Holy Scripture says, “remove not the old
landmarks; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless, (Prov. 23:10). But,
today, there are lots of violations of the rights of the fatherless, which the
Christian Church and society are not addressing, especially, with regards to
landed property. It is on record that most estates of the persons whose fathers
died early in life are denied them by certain wicked individuals in society,
with piles of litigations instituted to frustrate them perpetually. Also,
certain legal practitioners whose duty it is, to see that justice come the way
of the fatherless, toe the fraudulent path in favour of those who greedily
dispossess them. To this end, this lesson equally opines that:
(i)
Those who
remove landmarks in an attempt to dispossess the fatherless of their landed
property or estates are acting against the
Word of God, (vs. 10)
(ii)
Any legal
practitioner who plays down on the rights of the fatherless in this direction
is also guilty of the same offence, (vs. 10)
(iii)
God who is
the father of the fatherless will surely plead their case, and will definitely
punish those
who
rebel against His Word that protects the rights of the fatherless, (Psalm
68:5-6)
LANDMARKS AND THE JUDGMENT OF GOD
No controversy, any violation of the Word of
God definitely attracts Divine Judgment, and the violation of the law banning
dishonest removal of landmarks is no exception. At the interim, those who
remove the landmarks of the fields of their neighbours, whether fatherless or
not, are faced with deadly problems, as evoked in the Law of Moses, which declares,
“Cursed is the man who removes his neighbour’s landmark” and the people shall
say, Amen! (Deut. 27:17). This explains why meaningful progresses are never
attained in any generation by those who are guilty of the offence. Also, at the
end of time, those elements found guilty of removing landmarks and encroaching
into their neighbour’s estates will be turned into hell, with their
counterparts in other fields of criminality, (Psalm 9:17). This, therefore,
serves as a clarion call, that:
(i)
Those who
are yet in violation of the Boundary Rules of the Lord, as enshrined
in the Law of Moses, should repent, (Deut.
19:14)
(ii)
God will
pardon them if they repent and turn away from such wickedness, (Isa. 55:7)
(iii)
If they fail
to repent, they will be among the wicked that would be everlastingly turn into
hell, (Psalm 9:17)
In conclusion, this lesson is a recipe put in place to
caution those in dishonest boundary adjustments, as well as a pointer to the
biblical truth that legitimate boundary adjustment is not a sin before God, as
it finally shows that eternal judgment awaits those who would not repent of
dishonest and wicked boundary adjustments. PLEASE,
SHARE THE MESSAGE!
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