Proverbs 22:28
Do not move an ancient boundary stone
set up by your ancestors.
This refers to the property lines marking the property belonging to a family. Its application is that we are to honor all contracts and agreements made before us. We do not move property lines; we do not revise contracts – i.e. not without appropriate agreements. An appropriate agreement is not merely a legal one, but one in which we are assuring fairness for the other party.
It means that we take responsibility for the agreements that our fathers and grandfathers and great-grandfathers made. As citizens, we take responsibility for the agreements made by our government both past and present. So do we as members of a church. So do we as members of God’s kingdom.
Consider some of the ancient landmarks set by Christ – turn the other cheek, do unto others what you would have them do unto you, go the extra mile. Such agreements we inherited when we took our inheritance. We may not revise the lines; we may not add conditional clauses. As our fathers accepted these lines, so must we, knowing as they did the property awaiting us in heaven.
Psalm 73
Surely God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart.2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;
I had nearly lost my foothold.
3 For I envied the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.4 They have no struggles;
their bodies are healthy and strong.[a]
5 They are free from common human burdens;
they are not plagued by human ills.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace;
they clothe themselves with violence.
7 From their callous hearts comes iniquity[b];
their evil imaginations have no limits.
8 They scoff, and speak with malice;
with arrogance they threaten oppression.
9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
and their tongues take possession of the earth.
10 Therefore their people turn to them
and drink up waters in abundance.[c]
11 They say, “How would God know?
Does the Most High know anything?”12 This is what the wicked are like—
always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.13 Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure
and have washed my hands in innocence.
14 All day long I have been afflicted,
and every morning brings new punishments.15 If I had spoken out like that,
I would have betrayed your children.
16 When I tried to understand all this,
it troubled me deeply
17 till I entered the sanctuary of God;
then I understood their final destiny.18 Surely you place them on slippery ground;
you cast them down to ruin.
19 How suddenly are they destroyed,
completely swept away by terrors!
20 They are like a dream when one awakes;
when you arise, Lord,
you will despise them as fantasies.21 When my heart was grieved
and my spirit embittered,
22 I was senseless and ignorant;
I was a brute beast before you.23 Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.27 Those who are far from you will perish;
you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
28 But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds.