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.
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.
Since next Tuesday is Election Day, it seems appropriate to reflect on the Proverbs’ teachings on leadership. Of course, those in positions of authority would do well to consider all the wisdom in the book of Proverbs. But there are eight passages they would do well to contemplate that speak specifically to those exercising secular authority. Here they are in the order of their appearance.
If you don’t help the people you lead, you won’t be in charge for long.
“In a multitude of people is a king’s glory, But in the scarcity of people is a prince’s ruin” (Proverbs 14.28 NASB). This verse tells us two things: 1) You cannot be a leader if no one is willing to follow, and 2) Deprivation will make your constituency turn on you.
What you say will get greater attention, so carefully choose your words.
“A divine verdict is on the lips of the king; His mouth should not err in judgment” (Proverbs 16.10 NASB). This verse does not mean that leaders are infallible, as some interpreted in the past, but rather that people put more weight on a leader’s words.
You cannot turn a blind eye to evil.
“A king who sits on the throne of justice disperses all evil with his eyes. A wise king scatters the wicked, And drives a threshing wheel over them.”(Proverbs 20.8,26 NASB).
One of the reasons God gives men authority is to wield the sword against the evildoer (Romans 13.4). As a result, being lenient toward lawbreakers harms the dominion over which you exercise control.
Taxation should not be excessive.
“The king gives stability to the land by justice, But a person who takes bribes ruins it” (Proverbs 29.4 NASB).
Commentators agree that this speaks of excessive taxation. I doubt any of us would view paying taxes as equal to a bribe, but it speaks to the ruler’s greed. Do you recall what happened when Rehoboam took the wrong advice and increased the already excessive tax burden on the people? The ten northern tribes of Israel broke away and formed a new kingdom under King Jeroboam (1 Kings 12.6ff).
Avoid surrounding yourself with “yes-men.”
“If a ruler pays attention to falsehood, All his ministers become wicked” (Proverbs 29.12 NASB).
People in power often attract sycophants who may speak lies that the ruler finds favorable. If he is the type who delights in those stroking his ego, he might discover himself surrounded by those seeking to use him to accomplish their means.
Don’t forget that your constituency includes people who can’t help you.
“If a king judges the poor with truth, His throne will be established forever” (Proverbs 29.14 NASB).
A popular leader fights for fair treatment for all citizens, especially the poor unable to lobby their cause. If you’ll also note that type of character wins one re-election.
If you want to further your political career, stay away from scandal.
“Do not give your strength to women, Or your ways to that which destroys kings. It is not for kings, Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, Or for rulers to desire intoxicating drink” (Proverbs 31.3-4 NASB).
Those in positions of authority are surrounded by more than just sycophants. Additionally, they have domestic and foreign foes. One strategy used by these foes involves the fairer sex. A honey trap is a name for this kind of strategy. Honey trapping entails luring a target into a romantic or sexual relationship to gain access to sensitive information. Recent history in the U.S. Congress reveals at least one Representative who fell victim to such a trap, having a relationship with an agent of communist China.
Persons in authoritative roles should never partake in excessive drinking. You may say or do something you will regret in a drunken state. People suspect one now-deceased politician murdered a political operative with whom he may have been having an affair while driving drunk in his car. His stature, however, protected him from even being arrested. While it did not end his political career, it derailed his chances of ever becoming President of the United States.
This list is not exhaustive. Further, Solomon discusses the proper way to interact with those in authority. However, the points I’ve made here appear particularly relevant during this election season.
One of the most intriguing people in all the gospels, to me, is the beggar sitting by the road near Jericho. Mark 10:46 tells us that the man’s name is Bartimaeus. Matthew tells us that there is another man sitting with him, and that man’s name is not given (20:30). This man was shameless in a good way, persistent despite the crowd sternly discouraging him (39). I wonder if there is a more pathetic person disclosed to us in the Bible (maybe Lazarus back in Luke 16). He is needy in at least five ways, according to Luke 18:35-43:
He’s physically impaired (35)–“a blind man”
He’s economically disadvantaged (35)–“by the road begging”
He’s socially outcast (39)–He’s not depicted as a respected member of society, but one to be corrected by the others
He’s emotionally distraught (38-41)–Begging for mercy and longing for sight
He’s spiritually incomplete (42)–When Jesus heals him, He tells the man, “Your faith has saved you.”
I love how the man is so stripped of his dignity, power, and resources that he boldly pleads for Jesus’ help. It may seem strange, but all of us need to get to that place if we will receive what only He can give. He wanted His mercy. When he received it, look at the response. He “began following Him, glorifying God; and when all the people saw it, they gave praise to God” (43). Don’t you want your submissive, obedient life to be a drawing card for others to see their need of God and to glorify Him? God really shows His power when He takes the lowliest and transforms them by what He does with and through them. That’s why I love this account.
Anita Geurink relates the incredible story of locals finding and rescuing a little baby boy who was abandoned in a forest outside Maseru, Lesotho. Hours later, a freak hailstorm pounded the area, damaging windows and roof, causing flooding, and striking the very spot where the baby had just been laying. The little boy already had a name, but it took on great significance in light of these events. His name, translated, means “Mercy” (Anita’s blog post).
When we look over our lives, how many times have we experienced the generous mercy of our God? We do not know what all He has spared us from, how He has protected us, or how He has delivered us. For every instance where we have seen His generous, providential hand, how many times has it been at work behind the scenes unbeknownst to us?
The apostle Paul deals with a difficult subject in Romans 11. God’s sovereign choice, summarized at the end of this discussion, can be hard for us to understand or accept. Paul concludes, “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen” (33-36). But God is neither cruel nor capricious. Paul characterizes Him as one who desires to show mercy to the obedient. The Gentiles received mercy through the rejection and disobedience of the Jews (30). But God still longed to show mercy to the Jews (31). He withholds His mercy only to those who persist in disobedience (32).
If only we can see ourselves as the little orphaned Lesothoan boy, vulnerable and helpless and in need of rescue, we will not harden our hearts against the kindness and mercy of God. Hosea seems to speak of a literal orphan who finds mercy in God (14:3), but the New Testament repeatedly speaks of us as spiritual orphans who received greater mercy, shown by His love, grace, and forgiveness (Eph. 2:4; 1 Pet. 1:3; 2:10; Jude 21).
By no means does God’s mercy exempt us from obedience. On the other hand, we should humble ourselves by remembering, “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit” (Ti. 3:5). You and I were more helpless than that abandoned baby in that forest in South Africa. He can enable us to overcome and do great things to His glory, but we must never forget that He does that! Have you thanked God for His “great mercy” today?
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