Removing Ancient Landmarks
The ancient landmarks that the Lord refers to in the Bible are not commemorative statues as some of us would imagine. We have plenty of monuments and statues across our nation to honor and remember people and historical events; however God’s ancient landmarks involve far more than a physical territory or boundary.
There has never been a time when boundaries, borders and territories were not set and important to God. He gave His people land to live, to cultivate, and to grow. It was a way of sustaining their lives. The borders were meant for a set boundary that showed ownership and occupation. Without a boundary there was no way of establishing what was yours, and keeping unwanted invaders from your land.
The land was a gift from God; an inheritance that came with promises. It also came with warnings that if there was disobedience, and they removed themselves from the ancient landmark of their covenantal faith, they would suffer invasions from their foreign enemies. They would be conquered and taken captive. Then Moses spoke to all of Israel saying, “Take heed and listen, O Israel: This day you have become the people of the LORD your God. Therefore you shall obey the voice of the LORD your God, and observe His commandments and His statues which. Command you today.” Deut 27:10
America was once referred to as a “New Israel” The Puritans made a covenant of grace with God. John Cotton, a Puritan minister preached the land of promise to those voyagers who set sail in 1630. He used 2 Samuel 7:10 “moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more.” Many people want to deny our biblical foundation; or they simply dismiss it as insignificant. The beauty of our God given freedom in America is that you have every right to believe it or not….But not believing it does not make it not so!
The removal of our “ancient landmarks” of faith began a rapid decline beginning in the late 50’s and by the 70’s there was a massive erosion of morality. Prayer had long since been removed from the schools, the effects of the Haight-Ashbury movement in California had spread across the country. Free love and drugs had infected our society. There was a short time of refreshing when “The Jesus Movement” was born out of the hippies seeking the true meaning in life; but it was not enough to bring about a major and lasting revival.
There were very few churches that encouraged their people to influence and engage the darkness at that time. It was actually the opposite! My early Christian life was “self contained” so to speak. If you were a true believer you did not belong in “dark” places like arts and entertainment…etc. All the major places of influence were taken over by those who believed that there was no place for what they deemed as “religion” in the market place or schools. Even courthouses were made to remove anything that spoke of God! The places where justice was supposed to be represented, suddenly could not even display the Commandants that are the very foundation for justice. This is the modern day removal of “ancient landmarks”
God gave us both physical and spiritual boundaries. They are territories that give us limits on what is right and what is wrong. When He tells us to “remove them not” it means do not be disloyal or faithless. The word ancient means- everlasting, eternity, evermore! God’s laws of righteousness and justice are forevermore! They are eternal. You can walk away, and you can choose to disregard and disobey; but it will not remove what is an eternal law.
Once we removed and disregarded our own spiritual laws of the land, it allowed for a complete defiance of our own physical borders. Opening your countries borders without any semblance of order or rule of law, will not only brings chaos and disorder; but it also brings crime, heartbreak, and a total disregard for life. It is the opposite of compassion. When you really love and care for people, you create an order and a system that protects both sides of the border. Without order, crime and needless death run rampant.
An enemy will always look for a weak link, or a weak person that provides the perfect scenario to break in and bring their evil. Sadly our current spiritual climate has provided an open door for this enemy; both physically and spiritually. Those who know what is at stake, and who know the power of prayer; need to remain steadfast in the faith, standing in the gap….and bringing remembrance to what our ancient landmarks are. When we do, justice will return, and a blessing will refresh our land.