Over 40 Times

Dale Pollard

Over 40 times, Scripture directly commands us to defend, protect, and care for orphans and widows. This isn’t a suggestion—it’s a high priority in God’s heart.

Take a quick look at few of these passages: 

Deuteronomy 10:18 – God executes justice for the fatherless and widow.

Isaiah 1:17 – “Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.”

Jeremiah 7:6 – “If you do not oppress the alien, the fatherless or the widow…then I will let you dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers forever.” 

Zechariah 7:10 – “Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless…”

And here’s one that we’ll take a closer look at: 

In Job 29, Job makes the argument that he’s a righteous man because he, 

“rescued the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to assist them.” 

Breaking this down in order, notice what the most righteous man of his day knew about righteous living, 

In verse 4 he claims, “I was a friend of God…” to explain, this he provides examples of what built this close friendship:

“I delivered the poor who cried for help…” (v.12) 

“I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a clean & royal garment” (v.14). 

This was a lifestyle and not a few occasions that he could recall. 

And finally, 

“I was a father to the needy, and I searched out the cause of him whom I did not know” (v.16). 

See how many aspects of his faithful qualities revolved around caring for and looking for those who were needy? The emphasis is on those who were fatherless, widows, and the most vulnerable. What a great guy, and what a greater God. We can be His friend by doing the same today.