Boundary

“The Lord will tear down the house of the proud, but he will establish the boundary of the widow.”  Proverbs 15:25

Boundary – Carl Sandburg said that fences make good neighbors.  His poem reminded us that we all live within the boundaries that define our lives.  Fences establish boundaries of possession and protection.  Without them, the lines for living get a bit fuzzy and that could lead to some very difficult times.

God has fences too.  They are the moral, ethical and social boundaries that He establishes for the proper use of His territory – the created universe.  God’s fences surround good pasture.  Inside the fence most of the behaviors are not mandated.   We have plenty of freedom inside the fence and as long as we stay inside, we will find nourishment and safety and companionship.  The fence is there to protect us from going outside where danger lies.

The Hebrew word gevul is used to describe God’s fences for widows.  God is very specific about how they should be treated.  Did you notice that the verse says that God establishes their boundaries?  It’s not up to the social security system or the welfare department to set up the guidelines.  God already built the fences to protect these people.  The issue is whether or not we will conform our behavior to the fences He put in place.

There is a reason that God tears down the houses of the proud.  They want to move the boundaries where they believe the boundaries belong.  They have forgotten that this is God’s land.  He does the surveying work.  When the proud build houses on property that God wants to use for something else, He demolishes those buildings.  They don’t fit His land management plan.  But widows are another story.  God knows exactly what He wants for them and it’s written right into the deed of the universe.

If fences are bothering you, perhaps you need to consult with the land use plan.  Fences are there for very good reasons.