Widows are so important to God. He saw and met the needs of Ruth, the Moabite. He sent Elijah to care for the Gentile widow in Zarephath during the 42-month famine, even raising her son from the dead (1 Kings 17). God used wealthy Job to bring joy to widows who wept and caused their hearts to sing (Job 29:13).
In the New Testament, Jesus honored and magnified the two mites of the widow who gave them to God (Mark 12; Luke 21). He raised the son of the destitute widow from the dead in Nain (Luke 12). God promptly provided for the neglected Grecian widows in Jerusalem by appointing deacons to care for them (Acts 6). Peter brought joy to those widows who wept, while gathered over the death of Dorcas, by raising her from the dead (Acts 9:39-41).
There is no doubt that God sees the needs of widows, the most vulnerable individuals in society, and cares for them. Read these following Old Testament verses that show the special place they have in His heart.
“You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child” (Ex. 22:22). “He administers justice for the fatherless and the widows” (Deut. 10:18). The Jewish tithe, given every third year, was given to support the Levites and widows (Duet. 14:29; 26:12-13). The great sharing of food during the annual Feast of Tabernacles and Feast of Pentecost specifically included widows (Deut. 6:11-14). “You shall not pervert justice due the stranger or the fatherless, nor take a widow’s garment as pledge” (Deut. 24:17). Jews were strictly forbidden from harvesting all their olives, grapes and wheat, for it was left behind to provide for widows (Deut. 24:19-21). “Cursed is the one who perverts the justice due the stranger, the fatherless, and widows” (Deut. 27:19). God is the defender of widows and watches over widows (Psa. 94:6; 146:9). “Defend the fatherless, plead for the widow (Isa. 1:17). “Do no wrong…to widows” (Jer. 22:3). “Let your widows trust in Me” (Jer. 49:11). “Do not oppress the widow” (Zech. 7:10).
There is not enough space to discuss all the New Testament verses in detail, but take time to read them (Matt. 23:14; 1 Tim. 5:9-16). Do more than just read them, consider how they show His care for widows.
Perhaps no verse shows God’s concern for widows better than James 1:27. God describes pure religion not in terms of being doctrinally perfect nor in just externally keeping His commandments. “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” Let us never forget our God cares for widows and uses us to do it!