In biblical literature, hedges are often used metaphorically to represent protection, boundaries, and divine care. The removal of hedges signifies vulnerability, exposure to danger, and divine judgment. This concept is vividly illustrated in several passages throughout the Scriptures, where the absence of hedges leads to desolation and destruction.

The imagery of hedges is prominently featured in the book of Isaiah. In Isaiah 5:5, the prophet speaks of God's judgment upon Israel, depicted as a vineyard: "Now I will tell you what I am about to do to my vineyard: I will remove its hedge, and it will be consumed; I will break down its wall, and it will be trampled." Here, the removal of the hedge signifies the withdrawal of God's protection, leaving the vineyard—symbolic of Israel—open to devastation and ruin. The hedge, once a symbol of divine favor and security, when removed, results in desolation.

Similarly, in the book of Job, the concept of a hedge is used to describe God's protective barrier around His faithful servant. Satan challenges God, suggesting that Job's righteousness is due to the divine protection he enjoys: "Have You not placed a hedge around him and his household and everything he owns?" (Job 1:10). The removal of this hedge, as allowed by God, leads to a series of calamities that test Job's faith and integrity. The narrative underscores the vulnerability and suffering that ensue when divine protection is lifted.

The theme of desolation following the removal of hedges is also evident in the prophetic literature concerning the judgment of nations. In Ezekiel 13:5, the false prophets are condemned for failing to stand in the breach or build a hedge for the house of Israel, leaving the people exposed to the impending wrath of God. The absence of a hedge here symbolizes a lack of spiritual leadership and protection, resulting in national calamity.

In the New Testament, while the explicit mention of hedges is less frequent, the underlying principle of divine protection and its removal can be seen in the parables of Jesus. In the Parable of the Tenants (Matthew 21:33-41), Jesus describes a landowner who plants a vineyard, puts a wall around it, and rents it to some farmers. The hedge or wall signifies the care and provision of God, and the subsequent judgment upon the tenants reflects the consequences of rejecting divine authority and protection.

Throughout Scripture, the removal of hedges serves as a powerful metaphor for divine judgment and the resultant desolation. It highlights the importance of God's protection and the dire consequences of its absence. The imagery calls believers to recognize the significance of divine boundaries and the need for spiritual vigilance to maintain the protective presence of God in their lives.Psalm 80:12,13
Why have you then broken down her hedges, so that all they which pass by the way do pluck her?
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Word of Jesus on Prayer.
... point of this prayer every difficulty hedges and directs us ... done them and sorrows
I have caused them; that ... Witness the dissatisfaction, yea desolation of my soul ...
//christianbookshelf.org/macdonald/unspoken sermons/the word of jesus on.htm

The Barren Fig-Tree;
... Here is labour, here is protection, here is removing of hindrances, here is ... his care,
and providence of protection and preservation: for he hedges his vineyard ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the barren fig-tree.htm

The Holy City; Or, the New Jerusalem:
... of briars and thorns, and of wasteness and desolation (Micah 3 ... the locusts and frogs
of the hedges, at the ... among the saints, and that hath caused that lingering ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the holy city or the.htm

What is a hedge of protection? | GotQuestions.org

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