Proverbs 23:10 Commentary and Bible Study

Nothing escapes God’s notice and all things are naked and open to his eyes. To the cruel and rapacious man, the fatherless seem an easy target, for there is no one powerful in this world to defend them, and it is easy for him to use his superior resources and opportunities in this life to take advantage of them. Who of any consequence will notice what is done to the poor and take up their cause? Therefore the cruel man has nothing to fear from any reprisal. Who that has influence will care about them, for the poor have nothing to give back to those who trouble to help them? Therefore the poor are alone and it is easy to take advantage of them. The poor are targeted not because they are full of riches, but because they are easy to steal from and their oppressors know this. The verse is similar to Proverbs 22:28.The ancient landmark was the boundary stone which marked out the borders of the land allotted by God to each tribe and to each division of a tribe down to individual families (Numbers 26:55-58; 33:54; Deuteronomy 19:14; Joshua 11:23). These boundaries were allotted by God and were not to be changed and to do so was a great evil which God warned against (Deuteronomy 27:17; Hosea 5:10). But the rich looked at the land belonging to their poor neighbour and thought that it would be an easy thing to move the landmark stone in order to enlarge their own territory and reduce their poor neighbour’s.But though no man will come to their aid, God will note this act of deception and he will take up their cause. Therefore those who oppress the poor find themselves fighting against God who is much stronger to avenge them than any human agent. God particularly notes the oppression of his chosen people who trust in him. The fatherless are focused on because they lack one who instinctively defends them. God’s revenge does not always come instantly, but those who provoke it cannot be at peace for God has a thousand ways of striking them when they least expect it, and what can they then do to defend themselves?