Sayings of the Wise - #10 — “Maintain Justice for the Fatherless” (Prov.23:10–11)

✨ Saying #10

— Maintain Justice for the Fatherless

📖 Proverbs 23:10–11 (NASB 1995)

“Do not move the ancient boundary,

Or go into the fields of the fatherless;

For their Redeemer is strong;

He will plead their case against you.”

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🌾 Meaning of the Text

This proverb blends two images — land boundaries and legal justice — to teach one truth:
God defends those who cannot defend themselves.

1️⃣ “Do not move the ancient boundary”
In ancient Israel, every family’s land was a sacred inheritance — a gift from God (see Deuteronomy 19:14). To “move” the stone markers was not just theft; it was a violation of divine order, an attempt to rewrite God’s distribution of blessing and justice.

➡️ Meaning: Don’t shift moral, spiritual, or ethical boundaries to gain advantage. What God established as right remains right.

2️⃣ “Or go into the fields of the fatherless”
The “fatherless” represent the vulnerable — those without protection, power, or voice. Exploiting their weakness was not just cruel; it was a crime against heaven.

➡️ Meaning: Don’t take advantage of those who cannot defend themselves — in business, relationships, or community life.

3️⃣ “For their Redeemer is strong”
The Hebrew word for “Redeemer” is (go’ el) — the kinsman-redeemer, one who defends a relative’s rights (as Boaz did for Ruth).

Here, God Himself steps in as the Redeemer of the oppressed.

➡️ Meaning: You may have power on earth, but God is their defender in heaven. He takes up their case personally.

🕊️ Spiritual Principle
Justice delayed or denied to the weak will still reach God’s court — and He will overturn every injustice in His time.

This proverb warns the powerful and comforts the powerless.
It reminds the wise woman that maturity means integrity —
to stand for what is right, even when it costs her.

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⚖️ Scene: The Court of Wisdom

(A quiet courtroom bathed in light. The Judge’s gavel rests beside an open scroll. Four women step forward — each one shaped by a different journey, each bearing the marks of lessons learned.)

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1️⃣ RAE — “The Voice That Once Spoke Too Soon”

“I once thought justice meant strength — being the loudest voice in the room,
setting everyone straight, demanding fairness on my terms.
But I learned that justice without mercy becomes judgment.
I moved boundaries with my words —
pushing people rather than protecting them.

Now I fight differently.
I speak slower, but stronger.
I don’t shout truth — I serve it.

Justice isn’t about proving I’m right.
It’s about ensuring others aren’t wronged.”

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2️⃣ MIA — “The Heart That Once Looked Away”

“I saw the fatherless — the lonely, the overlooked —
but sometimes I smiled and passed by.
Not because I didn’t care,
but because I feared their pain might drain my joy.

But God showed me: love isn’t always laughter —
sometimes it’s sitting in silence beside someone’s ache.

Now I move toward the broken, not away.
I bring joy that heals, not humor that hides.

I’ve learned — compassion is the courage to stay when others walk away.”

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3️⃣ ELI — “The Mind That Once Stood Still”

“I studied justice, wrote about it, prayed for it —
but rarely stood up for it.
I saw injustice and analyzed it from afar.

Then one day, the Spirit whispered,
‘Justice doesn’t live in journals; it lives in actions.’

I realized my silence was agreement.
My caution had become complicity.

So now I speak — not loudly, but firmly.
I defend what’s right, even if my voice trembles.

I’ve learned that wisdom without courage is incomplete.”

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4️⃣ FAY — “The Soul That Once Chose Comfort”

“I thought peace meant avoiding conflict,
staying quiet, staying safe.

But when others were mistreated and I said nothing,
I moved the boundary of justice by standing still.

Then I saw — silence can be as sharp as injustice itself.

Now I stand, even if my stance is small.
I offer calm that comforts, but courage that counts.

True peace doesn’t ignore pain —
it faces it with faith.”

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🌿 The Judge’s Word

(A voice from the bench — gentle yet powerful.)

“Well done, daughters of wisdom.
You have learned that justice is not born in noise or neglect —
but in the steady hands that protect the weak.

Go now, and keep the boundaries of compassion intact.
Defend what cannot defend itself.
And remember —
when you guard the fatherless,
you guard My heart.”

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💬 Reflection Question

When you see someone being overlooked, mistreated, or left behind —
do you speak, step in, or stay silent?
Which of the four voices echoed your response according to your primary temperament
— Rae, Mia, Eli, or Fay?

💭 Kindly share your answer in the comments below. 💬✨. Thank you

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🌾 Closing Thought

Justice isn’t a courtroom word — it’s a covenant of the heart.
And when the world forgets the fatherless,
the wise woman remembers:

Their Redeemer is strong.

Wishing you a wonderful week, ladies. Keep lifting each other up and encouraging others to walk with us through the 30 Sayings of the Wise. 💕