Setting Boundaries

Remove not the ancient landmark, Which thy fathers have set.

Proverbs 22:28

I heard a minister preach on this topic recently and admittedly, since the message was online, I did not follow much of his thoughts (as I was engaging in another activity). However, the thought of setting boundaries continued to stay with me. If we are going to be successful at anything in life, boundaries need to be set to keep us focused on our goals. We cannot just “throw caution to the wind.” A successful life is not lived that way. To do anything well, one must follow the parameters and/or guidelines that it takes to master that craft or challenge. A new buzz-phrase in the business world is to challenge one to “think outside the box.” While that is a good thought, the box is still a reference point! There has to be a box in order to think outside of it. Many people refer to this as a new way of thinking. However, Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 1:9:

The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

Ironically, the box is still the box! Yes, we may have new technologies and advancements in science and engineering. However, we still struggle with knowing how the Great Pyramids were built or how they moved stone to build Stonehenge.

Boundaries

A definition of boundary is something that indicates or fixes a limit or extent. An example would be the individual states within the United States. Each state is define by limits that are fixed “lines” or locations. However, each state is also defined by a set of legal guidelines or a constitution that makes it separate and distinct from its neighboring and other states. The states “work” together under the United States Constitution and its associated amendments. However, each state has a degree of autonomy to conduct business, trade, provide protection for its citizens, educate, etc. as long it does not conflict with the “greater good” of the US Constitution (or boundary). If you look at the box as being the boundaries that are set up to identify each state, a particular state, while retaining its sovereign identity, can excel and prosper within the national framework.

A professional athlete can excel within the boundaries of his or her sport. A professional baseball player trains within the scope and rules of baseball. He does not put all of his time, energy and training in learning how to play football when he has to hit a 90+ mph fastball. A gymnast does not train like a rugby player if she is going to excel at her profession. That would be a waste of time and effort. To get to the top of her craft, she must excel within the boundaries that gymnastics has set forth. Can there be new ideas and new challenges; new routines and new degrees of difficulty? Certainly, however, the “box” is still the “box.” Gymnastics still has a set of rules and guidelines; a set of norms and parameters that have remained since the beginning of the sport. Certainly, rules have been tweaked. However, the overall sport has remained the same.

Remove Not The Ancient Landmark

In our scripture verse Solomon admonishes his reader to not remove the ancient landmark, which your fathers have set. A landmark, in that day, was used to establish property boundaries. Today, we use a metes and bounds system to do essentially the same thing. If you own a home, your property has been surveyed. Survey pins have been set to establish the boundaries of your property. Along with the physical survey is a written description of your property that is legally “recorded” with your city or county. In Solomon’s day, there was a physical landmark. However, there, generally, was not a written description of that property. Once the landmark was set there was a “gentlemen’s agreement” that they landmark itself was “legally” binding (In the Jewish tradition, when the contract was settled, the receiving party would give their sandal as a means to bind the contract (Ruth 4: 7)). To remove a landmark was to break a contract. Most landmarks were established by a strong physical presence. To remove that landmark would take great effort. Therefore it would not be something that could be easily concealed. Especially, if it had been there for generations or set by the fathers or grandfathers.

While Solomon was giving good guidance for contract or civil law, his main purpose was to establish a more spiritual principal. God established the law as a physical landmark for his people. Solomon was really forewarning them not to remove the law. Why was that so important? The law was given for two reasons; to provide for a protection for God’s people as well as for a distinction for God’s people. Just as a physical barrier does the same. If I live in a particular state in the US, the barrier or boundaries of that state are their for my protection but also distinguish me as a citizen of that state. That protection can come in a physical sense, such as provided by that State’s National Guard or it can come through the legal protections afforded by that state’s laws and ordinances. That citizenship may be readily apparent because of an accent or a certain phrasing.

Our Landmark

What Solomon wanted God’s people to understand is that the boundaries that were set forth “by their fathers” or really their Father were there as a protection but also a distinction of their citizenry. God has the same thing for his people today. Jesus said in Matthew 5: 17:

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Jesus Christ is the embodiment or fulfillment of the law. In other words, do not remove Jesus, as our boundary which the Father has set. Jesus has come to give life and that more abundantly. He is come to not only protect us but to also make us distinct citizens of the country that He represents. That protection keeps us from us going outside the boundaries and possibly harming ourselves but also from keeping someone or something coming within the boundaries that may try to do us harm. Jesus is not interested in us thinking outside of him. He wants us to surrender and learn more of him.

However, it is still up to us not to remove the landmark; not to remove the boundaries; not to remove Jesus. Peter says of us in 1 Peter 2: 9, 10:

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.

Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

That word peculiar does not mean weird. It means distinct. God wants us to be a distinct yet blessed people. God wants to give us all of the riches of his kingdom. However, we must except his Ancient Landmark and not remove Him out of our lives. Even though we live in different times with a vast array of new technologies and new ways of thinking, we still need to remain on the old paths and stay within the boundaries that God has set for us. Alas herein lies the distinction. As his people, we no longer walk the way we used to; we no longer talk the way we used to; we no longer run after the same crowd that we used to. We look different; We dress differently! We are the same physical being. However, we are not the same spiritual being. Instead of walking after the direction of the world. We seek a heavenly direction. We are not citizens of the world; we have our citizenship in heaven. And as citizens, we are afforded the protection of the kingdom. Our old man is dead; our new man reigns with God through Jesus Christ in mercy. Chosen, royal, holy and peculiar! These are all attributes of a people who do not remove the Ancient Landmark!