AFFLICTIONS OF FATHERLESSNESS AND WIDOWHOOD
Widows And The Fatherless Are Vulnerable
Exodus 22:22-24 reads,
22:22
"You shall not take advantage of any widow or fatherless child. 22:23If you take advantage of them at all, and they cry at all to me, I will surely hear their cry; 22:24and my wrath will grow hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.The implication of Yahweh's words is that widows and fatherless children are in a situation whereby a person can take advantage of them, on account of their not having a husband and a father. This additionally implies that husbands and fathers perform a role whereby they protect their wives and children, ensuring that others do not take advantage of them or abuse them. It is therefore for husbands and fathers to provide for and protect their wives and children, thereby ensuring that these of their households are not taken advantage of.
Yahweh Executes Justice For The Fatherless And Widows
Deuteronomy 10:12-22 reads,
10:12
Now, Israel, what does Yahweh your God require of you, but to fear Yahweh your God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 10:13to keep the commandments of Yahweh, and his statutes, which I command you this day for your good? 10:14Behold, to Yahweh your God belongs heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth, with all that is therein. 10:15Only Yahweh had a delight in your fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all peoples, as at this day. 10:16Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiff-necked. 10:17For Yahweh your God, he is God of gods, and Lord of lords, the great God, the mighty, and the awesome, who doesn’t regard persons, nor takes reward. 10:18He does execute justice for the fatherless and widow, and loves the sojourner, in giving him food and clothing. 10:19Love you therefore the sojourner; for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt. 10:20You shall fear Yahweh your God; him shall you serve; and to him shall you cleave, and by his name shall you swear. 10:21He is your praise, and he is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things, which your eyes have seen. 10:22Your fathers went down into Egypt with seventy persons; and now Yahweh your God has made you as the stars of the sky for multitude.It should be noted that the disadvantaged, the fatherless, widows and sojourners, have a special place in Yahweh's heart. Yahweh provides for them, giving them their needs, as their disadvantaged state makes it extremely difficult for them to have sufficient provision for these needs.
A Husband Should Provide His Wife And Children With Their Needs
Taking note of the implication from Yahweh's word in Exodus 22, it should be noted that it is indeed a husband's role to provide his wife and children with their needs - food and clothing. And those who are fatherless and widows do not have one to provide for their needs, and therefore are vulnerable to being exploited by others, on account of their desperate and needy state.
Widows And The Fatherless Are Generally Among The Economically Disadvantaged Of Society
Deuteronomy 14:27-29 reads,
14:27
The Levite who is within your gates, you shall not forsake him; for he has no portion nor inheritance with you. 14:28At the end of every three years you shall bring forth all the tithe of your increase in the same year, and shall lay it up within your gates: 14:29and the Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you, and the sojourner, and the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that Yahweh your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.It should be noted that the reason the Levite, the sojourner, the fatherless and the widow are grouped together is because they are the economically disadvantaged in society. Both the Levite and the sojourner have no portion or inheritance in the land, and therefore do not have the resources by which they can be economically empowered. The fatherless and the widow do not have a father and husband, and therefore do not have a means by which they can be economically empowered or provided for. It therefore appears to be the case that the Levite, the sojourner, the fatherless and the widow suffer economic and physical want on account of their not having the resources by which to acquire these needs.
Show Concern For The Disadvantaged
Deuteronomy 16:10-15 reads,
16:10
You shall keep the feast of weeks to Yahweh your God with a tribute of a freewill-offering of your hand, which you shall give, according as Yahweh your God blesses you: 16:11and you shall rejoice before Yahweh your God, you, and your son, and your daughter, and your man-servant, and your maid-servant, and the Levite who is within your gates, and the sojourner, and the fatherless, and the widow, who are in the midst of you, in the place which Yahweh your God shall choose, to cause his name to dwell there. 16:12You shall remember that you were a bondservant in Egypt: and you shall observe and do these statutes. 16:13You shall keep the feast of tents seven days, after that you have gathered in from your threshing floor and from your winepress: 16:14and you shall rejoice in your feast, you, and your son, and your daughter, and your man-servant, and your maid-servant, and the Levite, and the sojourner, and the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your gates. 16:15Seven days shall you keep a feast to Yahweh your God in the place which Yahweh shall choose; because Yahweh your God will bless you in all your increase, and in all the work of your hands, and you shall be altogether joyful.It should be noted that Yahweh requires his people to show concern for those who are disadvantaged by sharing their good things with them, seeing that the disadvantaged do not have these good things.
Provide For The Disadvantaged Within Your Geographic Area
It should also be noted that Yahweh has guided those who are blessed among his people to look after and provide for those who are disadvantaged among them. He does not say that they should necessarily go out of their territory to look for the needy in other territories, but to attend to the needy within their territories. For Yahweh speaks of those needy "in the midst of" them, the needy "within your gates". We should therefore manifest Yahweh's love by sharing Yahweh's blessings to us with those who are needy amongst us.
Show Compassion On The Economically Disadvantaged
Deuteronomy 24:17-22 reads,
24:17
You shall not wrest the justice due to the sojourner, or to the fatherless, nor take the widow’s clothing to pledge; 24:18but you shall remember that you were a bondservant in Egypt, and Yahweh your God redeemed you there: therefore I command you to do this thing. 24:19When you reap your harvest in your field, and have forgot a sheaf in the field, you shall not go again to get it: it shall be for the sojourner, for the fatherless, and for the widow; that Yahweh your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. 24:20When you beat your olive tree, you shall not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the sojourner, for the fatherless, and for the widow. 24:21When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not glean it after you: it shall be for the sojourner, for the fatherless, and for the widow. 24:22You shall remember that you were a bondservant in the land of Egypt: therefore I command you to do this thing.It should be noted that Yahweh requires his people not to worsen the economic plight of those who are economically disadvantaged, even when they have a contractual right to do so, such as in taking a pledge for credit extended. Yahweh requires his people to show compassion on the economically disadvantaged and not to exploit them, either directly or contingently, such as securing a contingent right over their clothes over unpaid debts.
Do Not Take As Pledge The Basic Needs Of The Economically Disadvantaged
It should also be noted that Yahweh prohibits his people from taking as pledge from the economically disadvantaged their basic needs - food and clothing. Due to the ease of perishing of food it would appear not to be favoured as a pledge. But the other basic need, clothing, can indeed be taken as pledge, as some items of clothing indeed have great value. As the taking of clothing might render the economically disadvantaged naked, Yahweh forbids his people from taking courses of action that might indeed render naked or hungry the economically disadvantaged. Instead Yahweh requires his people to provide for these economically disadvantaged by sharing their food and clothing with them.
Yahweh Blesses Those Who Provide For The Needy
Deuteronomy 26:12-15 reads,
26:12
When you have made an end of tithing all the tithe of your increase in the third year, which is the year of tithing, then you shall give it to the Levite, to the sojourner, to the fatherless, and to the widow, that they may eat within your gates, and be filled. 26:13You shall say before Yahweh your God, I have put away the holy things out of my house, and also have given them to the Levite, and to the sojourner, to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to all your commandment which you have commanded me: I have not transgressed any of your commandments, neither have I forgotten them: 26:14I have not eaten of it in my mourning, neither have I put away of it, being unclean, nor given of it for the dead: I have listened to the voice of Yahweh my God; I have done according to all that you have commanded me. 26:15Look down from your holy habitation, from heaven, and bless your people Israel, and the ground which you have given us, as you swore to our fathers, a land flowing with milk and honey.Yahweh repeatedly reiterates his command to his people to provide for those who are economically disadvantaged, providing them with their needs - food and clothing. For so being considerate and loving, he indeed blesses them by giving them plenty.
It should therefore be clear that those who desire plenty of blessings from Yahweh should indeed manifest Yahweh's love toward the economically disadvantaged within their midst, providing these with their various needs and also not exploiting their economically disadvantaged state.
Cursed Are Those Who Oppress The Needy
Deuteronomy 27:19 reads,
27:19
Cursed be he who wrests the justice due to the sojourner, fatherless, and widow. All the people shall say, Amen.To stress to his people the importance of not only demonstrating love to the economically disadvantaged, Yahweh pronounces a curse upon any of them who exploits them or unjustly treats them. It is therefore imperative that Yahweh's people manifest his love for the economically disadvantaged by providing for their needs and avoiding courses of action that might interfere with or thwart these needs reaching these economically disadvantaged.
The Unjust Make Merchandise Of The Needy
Job 6:27 reads,
6:27
Yes, you would even cast lots for the fatherless,Those without love in their hearts not only make merchandise of their friends, but also cast lots for the fatherless, presumably to take these fatherless into slavery and exploitation!
Those Who Fail To Show Compassion On The Needy Are Cursed
Job 22:9-11 reads,
22:9
You have sent widows away empty,22:10
Therefore snares are round about you.22:11
Or darkness, so that you can not see,Eliphaz the Temanite understood that those who send widows away empty, without giving them their needs when they need help, and those who exploit and injure the fatherless, thereby depriving them of their means of sustenance, indeed incur a curse from Yahweh. His words in this context are in harmony with Yahweh's words in Deuteronomy 27:19, whereby a curse befalls those who abuse the economically disadvantaged.
How The Wicked Mercilessly Exploit The Needy
Job 24:1-12 reads,
24:1
"Why aren’t times laid up by the Almighty?24:2
There are people who remove the landmarks.24:3
They drive away the donkey of the fatherless,24:4
They turn the needy out of the way.24:5
Behold, as wild donkeys in the desert,The wilderness yields them bread for their children.
24:6They cut their provender in the field.
They glean the vineyard of the wicked.
24:7They lie all night naked without clothing,
And have no covering in the cold.
24:8They are wet with the showers of the mountains,
And embrace the rock for lack of a shelter.
24:9There are those who pluck the fatherless from the breast,
And take a pledge of the poor,
24:10So that they go around naked without clothing.
Being hungry, they carry the sheaves.
24:11
They make oil within the walls of these men.24:12
From out of the populous city, men groan.Job clearly describes how the wicked mercilessly exploit and abuse the needy - the fatherless and widows, those who do not have a father or husband to protect them and provide for them.
It appears that it is indeed a blessing for a child to have a father who both provides protection and provision. It is indeed a blessing for a woman to have a husband who both provides protection and provision. The lack of having a father or husband who provides these opens one up for physical and economic abuse and exploitation!
The Portion Of A Wicked Man With Yahweh
Job 27:13-23 reads,
27:13
"This is the portion of a wicked man with God,27:14
If his children are multiplied, it is for the sword.27:15
Those who remain of him shall be buried in death.27:16
Though he heap up silver as the dust,27:17
He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on,27:18
He builds his house as the moth,27:19
He lies down rich, but he shall not do so again.27:20
Terrors overtake him like waters;27:21
The east wind carries him away, and he departs;27:22
For it hurls at him, and does not spare,27:23
Men shall clap their hands at him,The Widows Of A Wicked Man Make No Lamentation Over Him
It should be noted that in Job's day there was a wicked man who died and left behind his widows, clearly showing that some men in Job's day had more than one wife. Nevertheless, despite leaving behind widows, they did not lament over him, on account of his wickedness.
The Widows Of Wicked Priests Make No Lamentation Over Them
Psalm 78:51-64 reads,
78:51
And struck all the firstborn in Egypt,78:52
But he led forth his own people like sheep,78:53
He led them safely, so that they weren't afraid,78:54
He brought them to the border of his sanctuary,78:55
He also drove out the nations before them,78:56
Yet they tempted and rebelled against the Most High God,78:57
But turned back, and dealt treacherously like their fathers.78:58
For they provoked him to anger with their high places,78:59
When God heard this, he was angry,78:60
So that he forsook the tent of Shiloh,78:61
And delivered his strength into captivity,78:62
He also gave his people over to the sword,78:63
Fire devoured their young men;78:64
Their priests fell by the sword,Psalm 78:64 echoes Job 27:15, whereby part of the portion of a wicked man is that his widow or widows make no lamentation over him when he dies. For the widows of the wicked priests of Israel did not weep over their late husbands, for that was Yahweh's portion to the wicked priests.
Psalm 94 reads,
94:1
Yahweh, you God to whom vengeance belongs,94:2
Rise up, you judge of the earth.94:3
Yahweh, how long will the wicked,94:4
They pour out arrogant words.94:5
They break your people in pieces, Yahweh,94:6
They kill the widow and the alien,94:7
They say, "Yah will not see,94:8
Consider, you senseless among the people;94:9
He who implanted the ear, won’t he hear?94:10
He who disciplines the nations, won’t he punish?94:11
Yahweh knows the thoughts of man,94:12
Blessed is the man whom you discipline, Yah,94:13
That you may give him rest from the days of adversity,94:14
For Yahweh won’t reject his people,94:15
For judgment will return to righteousness.94:16
Who will rise up for me against the wicked?94:17
Unless Yahweh had been my help,94:18
When I said, "My foot is slipping!"94:19
In the multitude of my thoughts within me,94:20
Shall the throne of wickedness have fellowship with you,94:21
They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous,94:22
But Yahweh has been my high tower,94:23
He has brought on them their own iniquity,Why Some Become Widows And Fatherless And Suffer Affliction
Psalm 109:1-20 reads,
109:1
God of my praise, don’t remain silent,109:3
They have also surrounded me with words of hatred,109:4
In return for my love, they are my adversaries;109:5
They have rewarded me evil for good,109:6
Set a wicked man over him.109:7
When he is judged, let him come forth guilty.109:8
Let his days be few.109:9
Let his children be fatherless,109:10
Let his children be wandering beggars.109:11
Let the creditor seize all that he has.109:12
Let there be none to extend kindness to him,109:13
Let his posterity be cut off.109:14
Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered by Yahweh.109:15
Let them be before Yahweh continually,109:16
Because he didn’t remember to show kindness,109:17
Yes, he loved cursing, and it came to him.109:18
He clothed himself also with cursing as with his garment.109:19
Let it be to him as the clothing with which he covers himself,109:20
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