©copyright 2003 Bonita M Quesinberry, R.C. "Truth Seekers and Speakers, Frequently Asked Biblical Questions & Answers"— 7-1/2-pgs, all scripture quotes from AKJV Bible— "What does the Bible say about God loving the fatherless?" ~~TSaS member Susan
The simplest way to address this query is to begin with scripture, followed by summary of God's magic seven.
(Exodus 22:22-23) Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry; and my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.
{To afflict is to increase the hardship already prevalent in the life of a widow or the fatherless child. Other scripture will enlighten as to what those afflictions might be.}
(Deuteronomy 10:18) He [the Lord] doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger [heathen], in giving him food and raiment.
{God makes it clear that He is the only judge, indicating that any judgment we might render should be based solely on His Written Word: despite what we might think. For instance, say a single mother desperately needs help but you don't know her personally. Does it really matter if her story of desperation is true or not? No, it does not; at least, where the giver is concerned: for we are to give without expectation. In doing so, the giver reaps the spiritual rewards. If, on the other hand, the single mother is being less than honest— perhaps she could work but doesn't, or could live cheaper but refuses to, or any other of a dozen reasons her claim may not be valid— God will come down on her and her alone. If nothing else, the truth will be revealed at some point and the givers will disappear from her life.}
(Deuteronomy 14:28-29) At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates: and the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger [heathen], and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest.
(Deuteronomy 16:10-11) And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto the Lord thy God with a tribute of a freewill offering of thine hand, which thou shalt give unto the Lord thy God, according as the Lord thy God hath blessed thee: and thou shalt rejoice before the Lord thy God, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and the stranger [heathen], and the fatherless, and the widow, that are among you, in the place which the Lord thy God hath chosen to place his name there.
{Our tithes should go to those who will not inherit the kingdom of God, to heathens, widows and the fatherless. Isn't that interesting. It doesn't say anything about it going to corporate Christendom's leaders, does it? This is not the only scripture that will reveal denominational Christianity for its many lies and abominations and blasphemies.}
(Deuteronomy 24:16-17) The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin. Thou shalt not pervert [distort, misrepresent] the judgment of the stranger, nor of the fatherless; nor take a widow's raiment to pledge [collateral for a debt].
(Deuteronomy 26:12-13) When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled; then thou shalt say before the Lord thy God, I have brought away the hallowed things out of mine house, and also have given them unto the Levite, and unto the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to all thy commandments which thou hast commanded me: I have not transgressed thy commandments, neither have I forgotten them.
(Deuteronomy 27:19) Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen.
{One incident comes to mind that truly fits this perversion. A young mother, and member of the church I was attending, had 3 small children, one virtually a newborn. She desperately needed financial help just for the infant's needs. Mind you, she had said nothing. Several us wrote a note to the pastor requesting that he ask for a special offering at the end of the service with the intent that it privately go to this mother. He blatantly disregarded our note, later mockingly telling us that he was "familiar" with her. He apparently based his judgment on the fact that she had been married several times and this last child was the result of a live-in arrangement: who since had abandoned her. She was working, attending church and working at getting her life straightened out. However, none of this should have been the pastor's or our concern. After all, there is not a scripture in existence that instructs us to determine the worthiness of any of these we are to help. Still, this young mother did not walk out empty-handed: for those of us in the one pew scrambled to put together what we had on us, stuffed it in a title envelope and gave it to her in private.}
(Job 6:27) Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend.
{Job is referring to falsely accusing another person: in this case, Job's so-called friends falsely accused him of sins he had not committed. In their flawed logic, this could be the only reason God would have allowed those afflictions upon Job. It never occurred to them that it was Satan's doing out of willful meanness and, for God, it simply was a test of Job's love for Him. Job passed with flying colors.}
(Job 22:5-7,9) Is not thy wickedness great? And thine iniquities infinite? For thou hast taken a pledge [to repay] from thy brother for nought [nothing], and stripped the naked of their clothing. Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry. Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.
{While this is another false accusation against Job, it nevertheless reveals what is considered wickedness if done by anyone.}
(Job 24:2-4,6-7,9-13) Some remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed thereof. They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take the widow's ox for a pledge [collateral for a debt]. They turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hide themselves together. They reap every one his [the poor's] corn in the field: and they gather the vintage of the wicked. They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they have no covering in the cold. They pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge [collateral] of the poor. They cause him to go naked without clothing, and they take away the sheaf [grain] from the hungry; which [who work for the rich] make oil within their walls, and tread their wine presses, and suffer thirst. Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded crieth out: yet God layeth not folly to them [does not charge them with a crime.] They [the financially comfortable] are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof.
(Job 29:11-16) When the ear [of God] heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me: because I delivered [helped] the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem [crown]. I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.
{Here Job enlightens us as to why we should do all those things for those less fortunate: we receive blessings of the Lord— provided we are doing those things without expecting anything from either those we help or even from Yeshua. It is our duty and should be treated as such.}
(Job 31:19-22) If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering; if his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep; if I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I say my help in the gate: then let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone.
{We should so love our fellow humans to the point that, if we see them in need yet do not render aid, we should expect and desire punishment: so, we don't forget and turn away from their agony again. Job speaks of seeing his "help in the gate." He is referring to the fact that those who need help representing a blessing to us when we help them.}
(Psalm 10:12-14) Wherefore [Why] doth the wicked contemn [scorn] God? He hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it. Thou hast seen it: for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite [revenge] it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou are the helper of the fatherless.
{God is the helper and He achieves this through the works of His flocks.}
(Psalm 68:5-6) [God is] A father to the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation. God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with [Satan's] chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.
{To dwell in a dry land is metaphoric for being dead spiritually: having no allegiance or obedience to God the Father. We help them because the here and now is all they ever will have: but, they are unaware of this fact and would not comprehend it if told.}
(Psalm 82:3-5) Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice [equitably] to the afflicted and needy. Deliver [help] the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked. They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.
{Defend the poor and fatherless when falsely accused, treat the afflicted and needy as equals in all things, help the poor and needy: removing them from the wicked who use them. The wicked won't understand because they walk in darkness and will continue on that same road: it's all a part of the predestined plan for earth and its inhabitants.}
(Psalm 94:3-7) Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph? How long shall they utter and speak hard [willful] things? And all the workers of iniquity boast themselves? They break in pieces thy people, O Lord, and afflict thine heritage. They slay the widow and the stranger [heathen], and murder the fatherless.
{There is a distinct difference between the wicked and heathens. The wicked and filthy know who is God and might even profess to be Christians and are aware of what it is they should be doing; but, they love the world more. Heathens, on the other hand, do not know who is God and do not know they are sinning against Him. For these reasons, heathens are included among those we are supposed to help. Through us, they come to know God and His loving ways. Through them we learn more about the first four commandments regarding our relationship with Yeshua. Nevertheless, there is a connection between heathens and those who will not inherit the Kingdom of God: both are heathens, one may accept the Lord through our witness while another may not. We do not have the power to discern which is which.}
(Psalm 146:9) The Lord preserveth [protects] the strangers [heathens]; he relieveth [helps] the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.
(Proverbs 23:10~,11) Enter not into the fields of the fatherless: for their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee.
(Isaiah 1:17-18,~19,23) Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool: IF ye be willing and obedient. Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.
* * * * * There is, however, a group of young men, fatherless and widows for which God has no mercy upon. * * * * *
(Isaiah 9:16-17) For the leaders of this [God's people] cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed. Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly [foolishness]. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
{The chapter goes on to describe these people's greed and hypocrisy, causing them to be hungry and unsatisfied spiritually. To lay this at the feet of their children and wives is logical, for in most cases they perform as do their fathers and husbands. However, a warning is issued to these people.}
(Isaiah 10:1-3) Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness [laws] which they have prescribed; to turn aside the needy from judgment [justice], and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless!
{Now we have a definition of who are the poor, needy, widows and fatherless: they are the ones among God's people— not just any poor, needy, widows and fatherless. They are the ones whose situations did not occur of their own doing. Albeit, again, we do not have the power to discern who is and who isn't one of God's and, in many cases, we cannot determine fault.}
(Jeremiah 5:28) They [the wicked] are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass [overlook] the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause [needs] of the fatherless, yet they proper; and the right of the needy do they not judge [determine.]
{The wicked prosper despite their wickedness. Why so? There is other scripture stating that their prosperousness is all they ever will have. There is no afterlife for them, no resurrection to eternal life: only a resurrection to a second death of utter destruction. So, in this we should pray for them: for they know knot what they do. Now, however, Adonai makes a promise to those He has called to enter salvation.}
(Jeremiah 5-7) For if ye throughly [thoroughly] amend your ways and your doings; if ye throughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbor; if ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed no innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt: then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever. {life everlasting on a new earth}
(Jeremiah 22:3) Thus saith the Lord; Execute ye judgment and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place.
(Jeremiah 49:11) Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve [protect] them alive; and let thy widows trust in me.
{Elohim also considers His that have been overtaken by a wicked nation.}
(Lamentations 5:1-5) Remember, O Lord, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach. Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens. We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers are as widows. We have drunken our water for money; our wood is sold unto us. Our necks are under persecution: we labour, and have no rest.
{Those who help those oppressed in Israel will be rewarded, for they are as orphans, fatherless, and widows. They also are the elite among His chosen people, for they birth salvation for the heathens: that's all us Gentiles.}
(Hosea 14:3) Asshur [the false god] shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee [the Lord] the fatherless findeth mercy.
(Zechariah 7:9-10) Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother: and oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.
(Malachi 3:5,~6) And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the Lord of hosts. For I am the Lord, I change not.
(James 1:27) Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
* * * * * Jesus asked, "Is it good to do well on the Sabbath." What most people don't realize is that He was referring to Isaiah c.58: wherein the Lord was chastising Israel for having changed the rules governing His Holy Day to fit their own pleasure and greed. Eloi's original requirements of the seventh day Sabbath Commandment, in addition to rest and worship of Him, was that the oppressed be set free and every yoke broken, to share their food with the hungry, to bring the poor into their own home, and to dress the naked. He also required that the men be at home with their families on that day as well, because they hardly were seen during the six days of labor.
In El Elyon's chastisement, He told them that if they would give up doing their own pleasures and speaking their own words on His Holy Day, they would be blessed. This same applies today by virtue of Jesus rephrasing the same thing about His and His Father's Holy Convocation. Because Yahoo! does not provide for bold print, all caps are used to highlight the core message in the following passages. * * * * *
(Isaiah 58:2-8,10,13-14) Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God. Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? Wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takes no knowledge? BEHOLD, IN THE DAY OF YOUR FAST YE FIND PLEASURE AND exact [DO] ALL YOUR LABOURS. Behold, YE FAST FOR STRIFE AND DEBATE AND TO SMITE WITH THE FIST OF WICKEDNESS: YE SHALL NOT FAST AS YE DO this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.
Is it such a fast that I have chosen? A day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Wilt thou call this a fast and an acceptable day to the Lord?
IS NOT THIS THE FAST THAT I HAVE CHOSEN? TO LOOSE THE BANDS OF WICKEDNESS, to UNDO the HEAVY BURDENS, AND to LET THE OPPRESSED GO FREE, AND THAT YE BREAK EVERY YOKE? Is it not TO deal [SHARE] THY BREAD TO THE HUNGRY, AND that thou BRING THE POOR that are cast out TO THY HOUSE? When THOU SEEST THE NAKED, THAT THOU COVER HIM; AND that thou HIDE NOT THYSELF FROM THINE OWN flesh [FAMILY]?
Then shall thy light break forth as the morning and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward. And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day.
IF THOU TURN AWAY thy foot from the Sabbath, FROM DOING THY PLEASURE ON MY HOLY DAY; AND CALL THE SABBATH A DELIGHT, THE HOLY OF THE LORD, HONOURABLE; AND SHALT HONOUR HIM, NOT DOING THINE OWN WAYS, NOR finding THINE OWN PLEASURE, NOR SPEAKING THINE OWN WORDS: THEN SHALT THOU DELIGHT THYSELF IN THE LORD; AND I WILL CAUSE THEE TO RIDE UPON THE HIGH PLACES OF THE EARTH, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy Father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
(Mark 3:4) And he saith unto them, Is it LAWFUL TO DO GOOD ON THE SABBATH DAYS, or to do evil? TO SAVE LIFE, or to kill? But they held their peace.
(Luke 13:14-16) And the ruler of the synagogue answer with indignation, because that Jesus had HEALED ON THE SABBATH DAY, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day. The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you ON THE SABBATH LOOSE HIS OX OR HIS ASS from the stall, AND LEAD HIM away TO WATERing? AND OUGHT NOT THIS WOMAN, being a daughter of Abraham, WHO SATAN HATH BOUND, lo, these EIGHTEEN YEARS, BE LOOSED FROM THIS BOND ON THE SABBATH DAY?
(Luke 14:1-5,11,14) And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the Sabbath day, that they watched him. And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy. And JESUS ANSWERING spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, is it LAWFUL TO HEAL ON THE SABBATH day? And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go; and answered them, saying, Which of YOU SHALL HAVE AN ASS OR AN OX FALLEN INTO A PIT, AND will not straightway PULL HIM OUT ON THE SABBATH DAY? For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. And thou shall be blessed; for they cannot recompense [repay, reward] thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.
(Matthew 25:34-36,40~) Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
* * * * * Christ came saying or requiring nothing new: only that which was from the beginning— His Father's will and doctrine. The unique thing about the Ten Commandments is that the fourth one carries a blessing to all who obey it and a curse to those who do not; and, the fifth one provides a promise. Of course, there is other scripture enlightening that obedience to all of God's Law also carries a blessing. Nevertheless and of the ten, those two differ from the other eight.
In summary, there is no doubt Yeshua has a special place in His heart for the fatherless, widows, heathens and those who will not inherit His Kingdom as well as the poor. Does any denomination meet El's requirements in any area: Commandments, Love, and Caring for the less fortunate? During my almost 60 years, I've not found one such denomination. Ah, but I have found a few people who live up to our Father's and Christ's expectations.
What we MUST NOT DO to the fatherless, widows, the poor, heathens and those who will not inherit the kingdom of God:
1. Do not use what little they might own as collateral against a debt. Logically, this should be interpreted: if you make a loan to these in need, do not secure it with collateral: rather using their word of honor as security. And, do not take their belongings when they cannot repay. If seven years pass, release them of the debt. It is God's way.
2. Do not distort God's judgments, thus rendering unfair judgment against them and in your favor.
3. Do not send them away empty handed, thirsty, hungry and naked when they come to you for help or you see they need help.
4. Do not falsely accuse them of anything.
5. Do not take anything that belongs to these in need.
6. Do not oppress/prevent them in anyway from overcoming their humble circumstances.
7. Do not commit violence against them in any way, neither verbally nor physically.
Finally, what is it we MUST DO for the fatherless, widows, poor, heathens, and those who will not inherit the kingdom of God:
1. Give them freely our 10% tithes of our income after taxes.
2. Help with whatsoever kind of need, whether monetary or physical or both.
3. House, feed and clothe these in need.
4. Defend these needy when falsely accused.
5. Remove these needy from the wicked's unfair use.
6. Encourage and aid them in overcoming their humble state.
7. Reveal to them your God who has mercy on the needy.
WHAT'S THE BENEFIT TO US FOR DOING ALL THESE THINGS:
1. Because we love the Lord.
2. Because we love our fellow human and want them to know and feel God's love.
3. Because the Lord said to do these things.
4. Because our scarlet sins will be made white as snow: forgiven.
5. Because we will be blessed as well as our own widows and fatherless protected.
6. Because we will have internal peace and happiness, no matter our station in life.
7. Because we will inherit the Kingdom of God and eternal life.
AMAZING, Amazing, amazing! Once again we see God's perfect number seven: not just once but three times! I even went back through the various verses and, as hard as I scrutinized each one, I could not find another item to add to any of these three lists. God is perfect, Yeshua's logical without flaw: thus, if we find the right answers— His answers— they, too, will be without flaw.
God loves those who love Him and He is so willing, eager, and ready to pour blessings and gifts all over us: IF only we will obey. Of course, until we obey, we must be prepared to pay the penalties of misbehaviour. Would you reward one of your kids for screwing up; or, would you punish them? Would you punish your child for appropriate behaviour; or, would you reward them? Well, Almighty God is our Father: who is like any other GOOD father, except El is mega times bigger thus must do things quite differently than we do and on a much grander scale.
The bottom line in helping others is not whether they are worthy of being helped or whether they are simply conning us: rather, do we love the Lord to do what He says without ever considering another person's worthiness. This life was never meant to be permanent, predestined to be temporary with permanency as a reward on a restored earth very unlike it is today.
Considering the temporariness of all our situations, does it not behoove us all to concentrate on whether or not self is pleasing Yeshua and forget about who might not be pleasing Him? Our only reason for being here is to find our way back to our Father, from whom we've been lost. Once we achieve that, we then have a new goal: help others to find their way back to Father.
Praise the Lord, it is not our job to judge the worthiness of our fellow human beings: but, it is our job to warn a brother or sister when we see them doing anything we know does not please El Shaddai. If we fail to warn, then Ishi will require their blood at our hands. I don't know about anyone else, but I'd much rather warn someone. Not real fond of spilled blood: another's or mine. Remember: condemning, which is to judge, and warning are two entirely different actions. And, helping is helping in ANY way.
