Defending the Fatherless and Widows in Society
The biblical concept of defending the fatherless and widows emphasizes God's special concern for vulnerable members of society and calls believers to imitate this divine care. The Old Testament frequently highlights God's role as a protector of these groups, and this concern is echoed in the New Testament's ethical teachings.
God is explicitly identified as "the father of the fatherless, And the advocate of widows" in Psalm 68:5 [2]. This divine characteristic serves as a model for human justice. Psalm 82:3 commands, "Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy" [1]. Similarly, Psalm 146:9 states that "The LORD protects the strangers; He supports the fatherless and the widow" [3]. These passages underscore that God not only cares for these vulnerable individuals but also actively intervenes on their behalf. John Gill notes that God assumes this character to express his "power and providence over such" and his "tenderness, mercy, and goodness to them" [6].
The vulnerability of the fatherless and widows is a recurring theme. Tyndale House notes that "The Lord’s law protects needy people (Deut 24:17; 27:19), but they remain vulnerable in society" [4]. This vulnerability often stems from their lack of social and economic power, making them susceptible to exploitation. John Calvin observed that "it seldom happens that the causes of the fatherless and widows are defended, because men do not expect from them any rewards" [5]. He further lamented that "there is a very great number of persons who are ready to plunder the poor and needy" [5]. This highlights a societal failure to uphold justice for those who cannot easily advocate for themselves.
The call to defend the fatherless and widows extends to human authorities and believers. Judges are exhorted to "Defend the poor and fatherless" [7], taking their causes under their care and ensuring justice is done [7]. Matthew Henry explains that the fatherless are "under God's special protection" and that God acts as their "Redeemer, their Goel, their near kinsman, that will take their part and stand up for them with jealousy" [9]. God will "plead their cause against those that do them any injury, and, one way or another, will not only defend their right, and recover it for them, but avenge the wrongs done to them" [9].
The New Testament continues this emphasis. Luke 18:3 features a parable about a persistent widow seeking justice, which Tyndale House interprets as reflecting God's concern for "widows, orphans, and foreigners—the most vulnerable members of ancient society" [8]. The passage also notes that God has "promised judgment against those who oppress them" [8]. John Gill connects this concern to the broader Christian ethic, stating that showing regard for the fatherless and widows is not only an Old Testament law but also "a branch of pure undefiled Christian religion" (James 1:27) [6]. The Apostle Paul, in 1 Timothy 5:7, gives instructions concerning the care and maintenance of widows, emphasizing that believers should be blameless in their conduct towards them [10].
Sources
- Psalms “Psalms 82:3 (Webster) — Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.”
- Psalms “Psalms 68:5 (Rotherham) — The father of the fatherless, And the advocate of widows, Is God, in his holy habitation.”
- Psalms “Psalms 146:9 (NASB) — The LORD protects the strangers; He supports the fatherless and the widow, But He thwarts the way of the wicked.”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 94:6: 94:6 widows . . . foreigners . . . orphans: The Lord’s law protects needy people (Deut 24:17; 27:19), but they remain vulnerable in society.”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 1, section 7.35: Prophet here selects two classes, by means of which the wickedness of men is more fully exposed; for it seldom happens that the causes of the fatherless and widows are defended, because men do not expect from them any rewards. To such an extent are they exposed to every kind of injustice, that no man comes forward in defense of them, because there is no man who follows justice on its own account; and not only so, but there is a very great number of persons who are ready to plunder the poor and needy. This proves that there is no one who cares”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 68:5: A father of the fatherless,.... In a literal sense, so as to show mercy to them, take care of then), and protect them; and this is a character which the great God often assumes, partly to express his power and providence over such, and partly to signify his tenderness, mercy, and goodness to them; and in which he should be imitated by civil magistrates, and by all good men: for it was not only a law in Israel to show regard to such, and take care not to afflict them, but it is also a branch of pure undefiled Christian religion, Jam 1:27, in attending to which we resem”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 82:3: Defend the poor and fatherless,.... Or, judge (d) them; such as have no money to enter and carry on a suit, and have no friends to assist and advise them, and abide by them; these should be taken under the care and wing of judges; their cause should be attended to, and justice done them; their persons should be protected, and their property defended and secured for, since they are called gods, they ought to imitate him whose name they bear, who is the Father of the fatherless, the Judge of the widows, and the helper of the poor that commit themselves to him, Psa 10:14”
- Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 18:3: 18:3 A widow: God is concerned for widows, orphans, and foreigners—the most vulnerable members of ancient society—and has promised judgment against those who oppress them (Exod 22:22; Deut 10:18; 24:17; 27:19; Ps 68:5; Isa 1:23; 10:2; Jer 22:3; Ezek 22:7; Amos 5:10-13; Zech 7:10; Mal 3:5). • Give me justice: The woman was in the right in this dispute—she was not asking for special favors.”
- Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 23:10: Note, 1. The fatherless are taken under God's special protection; with him they not only find mercy shown to them (Hos 14:3) but justice done for them. He is their Redeemer, their Goel, their near kinsman, that will take their part and stand up for them with jealousy, as taking himself affronted in the injuries done to them. As their Redeemer he will plead their cause against those that do them any injury, and, one way or other, will not only defend their right, and recover it for them, but avenge the wrongs done to them. And he is mighty, almighty; his omnipot”
- 1 Timothy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Timothy 5:7: And these things give in charge,.... Concerning rebuking persons of a different age and sex, and concerning the maintenance of widows; and particularly that children provide for their parents when helpless; and that widows trust in God, and give themselves to prayer and supplication, and not live in sin: that they may be blameless; before men, and in the view of the world, and not be chargeable with any notorious crime; though none are without blame in themselves, and before God, but as considered in Christ Jesus.”