Boundary Stones Or Landmarks

BOUNDARY STONES OR LANDMARKS

Proverbs 22:28; 23:10

22:28 (NIV) Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your forefathers.

23:10 (NIV) Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,

22:28 (KJV) Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.

23: 10 (KJV) Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless:

            When the traveler in days of old walked through the land of Canaan, he came here and there upon significant memorials that had been established by those who had been recipients of God’s blessings and divine visitations.  These places were marked by landmarks, stones, or other means.  He might pass by the place where God had delivered Jacob from Laban, and where Jacob put up a pillar as a testimony that beyond that spot his enemies should not come over.  As the traveler went on, he might come to the place where the great altar was built by the two and ½ tribes, to keep them reminded that they belonged to Israel, though they were on the other side of Jordan.  Then, again, he would come to the place where the stones were set up at Bethel, as a mark that God revealed Himself to Jacob there.  Next, he might come to Gilgal, where the Lord had caused the people to go over the Jordan on dry land; and afterwards to the stone of Ebenezer, which had been set up to show that the Lord had delivered them.  And so when strangers passed through the land, and asked those that dwelt there what was meant by that pile of rocks, or that pillar, or that special stone—the people would tell them of God’s blessings of power and deliverance in the past, and God’s covenants of mercy for the future.

OUR LANDMARKS

            Each parcel of land has boundary markers…most of them are buried and out of sight, but they are on record in the county courthouse.  If you sell your land and they have to do a survey, the surveyors bring out their instruments and locate those old markers that have been there for many years. 

            As the Christian passes through the better land of God’s Word, he comes upon marker stones or landmarks; If you stop to observe, you will find stories and legends of what God has done.  They are there for a reason—they tell a story!  We have the assurance that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.  There is proof of the fact that God is a covenant-keeping God.

            These events are markers for us—for each individual believer—for the church.

Such as:  The virgin birth; the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus; His sinless life, and many other markers.

Sometimes there are additional signs causing us to stop and pay particular attention to this memorial

In the first 6 books of the Bible there are laid down five such signposts.  They were to indicate distinct stages in Israel’s experience and service.  In each of these occasions the children would say to their parents: “What is the meaning of this service?  Why do we observe this ordinance?  “What is the meaning of this pile of stones?”  In each of these instances, God intended this service or memorial to be something so striking, that generation, after generation would say to their parents: “This is something out of the ordinary.  It is not like the rest of the world—what does it mean?  And God gave them the answer that they were to give.

One such sign was the Passover and the answer given would apply to all such events.

1. THE PASSOVER

(Exo 12:25 NIV)  When you enter the land that the LORD will give you as he promised, observe this ceremony.

(Exo 12:26 NIV)  And when your children ask you, 'What does this ceremony mean to you?'

(Exo 12:27 NIV)  then tell them, 'It is the Passover sacrifice to the LORD, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.'" Then the people bowed down and worshiped.

The landmarks told a story.  The landmarks were sacred.  They marked the boundaries of their inheritance that was given to them by God. 

Remember the story of Ahab, who wanted the vineyard of Naboth?  “I will give you one that is better.”  Naboth would not sell because his inheritance was from God and was sacred to him.

I wonder if we value the landmarks of modern Pentecost.  How much are we teaching our children about our heritage? 

Each new generation has new ways and new ideas.  Time changes things and people.  Music changes, styles change, but there should be some things that never change.  We should have some boundary stones set out in our life, in our church that will cause the youth who come behind us to ask the question, “What does this mean?”

As those who lead, we have a responsibility to know, to experience for ourselves, so that we can pass along to our children a heritage that God gave to us.