Bridges on Proverbs 23:10-11
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 23:10-11
 
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10.  Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless: {landmark: or, bound} 11.  For their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee.
 
The general prohibition to remove the old landmark has been before given. (Chapter 22:28.) A special warning, and a powerful reason are here added. Many would not dare to touch the rich, while they oppress the poor at their will. But the fields of the fatherless are under Almighty protection. Not indeed that there is any license to trespass upon the rich man's field. But the fatherless having no might, God will plead with the invader for the wrong done to them, as for a wrong done to himself, because done to those, whom he undertook to protect. Beware therefore of arming against yourself the divine vengeance by entering into it. Helpless they may seem to be. But their Redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee.† Was the nearest of kin bound to be the Redeemer of his kinsman's wrongs?† Adored be the unsearchable pity, grace, and condescension of Emmanuel! When he could not redeem as God, he became our kinsman, that he might be our Redeemer!† And he now bears the endearing title of “the Father of the fatherless.”† His moral government shews, that “in him they find” not “mercy”† only but justice also. (Psalm 103:6.) Here is their strong confidence, when human help is gone. — “The poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.” (Ib. 10:14, 17, 18.) “Pure and undefiled religion is” therefore to follow his heavenly pattern — “to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction.” (James 1:27.) Special provision was made in the Apostolical ministration for these friendless objects of Christian help.† The gospel reflects the image of Christ, when native selfishness is thus melted away in sympathizing love.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proverbs 22:28
28 ¶ Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set. {landmark: or, bound}
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 22:22, 23. Jeremiah 50:33, 34. Compare Exodus 22:22-24. Job 22:9, 10; 31:21-23; 34:28. Isaiah 10:1-3.
 
 
Proverbs 22:22, 23
22 ¶ Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate: 23 For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.
 
Jeremiah 50:33, 34
33 ¶ Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The children of Israel and the children of Judah were oppressed together: and all that took them captives held them fast; they refused to let them go. 34 Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name: he shall throughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon.
 
Compare
Exodus 22:22-24
22 Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. 23 If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry; 24 And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.
 
Job 22:9, 10
9 Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken. 10 Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden fear troubleth thee;
 
Job 31:21-23
21 If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate: 22 Then let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone. {bone: or, chanelbone} 23 For destruction from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure.
 
Job 34:28
28 So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.
 
Isaiah 10:1-3
1 ¶ Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed; {that write...: or, to the writers that write grievousness} 2 To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless! 3 And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Leviticus 25:25. Numbers 35:12. Ruth 3:12.
 
 
Leviticus 25:25
25 If thy brother be waxen poor, and hath sold away some of his possession, and if any of his kin come to redeem it, then shall he redeem that which his brother sold.
 
Numbers 35:12
12 And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger; that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment.
 
Ruth 3:12
12 And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Hebrews 2:14-16.
 
 
Hebrews 2:14-16
14 ¶ Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. {took not...: Gr. taketh not hold of angels, but of the seed of Abraham he taketh hold}
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Psalm 68:5, with 18.
 
 
Psalm 68:5
5 A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.
 
with
Psalm 68:18
18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them. {for men: Heb. in the man}
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Hosea 14:3. Psalm 146:9.
 
 
Hosea 14:3
3 Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.
 
Psalm 146:9
9 The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Psalm 103:6
6 ¶ The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Psalm 10:14, 17, 18
14 Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless. {committeth: Heb. leaveth} 17 LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear: {prepare: or, establish} 18 To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress. {oppress: or, terrify}
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
James 1:27
27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Acts 6:1. 1 Timothy 5:3-5, 9, 10.
 
 
Acts 6:1
1 ¶ And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
 
1 Timothy 5:3-5, 9, 10
3 ¶ Honour widows that are widows indeed. 4 But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God. {piety: or, kindness} 5 Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day. 9 Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man, {taken...: or, chosen} 10 Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.