Ruth …5…widows in the Bible…

 Ruth…5….Widows in the Bible…

As the 13th anniversary of my husband’s passing is approaching, reading about Ruth and Naomi is bittersweet….it is a reminder of his absence, but also of God’s care…

There are several widows mentioned in the Bible in both the Old and New Testaments …miracles are associated with  some of these widows..

But, one caring standout first…it is how Jesus, on the cross, bleeding, dying, took care of his widowed mother…giving over her care to one of his disciples…John 19:25-30

Jesus also raised a son of a widow …Luke 7:11-17..

Other widows that quickly come to mind are…the widow of Zarephath…a widow ready to die from lack of food…Elijah asks for food which she gives and in  turn her food did not run out as she obeyed and gave her “last” flour and oil…1 Kings 17…

 Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’”

1Kgs.17.13-14

The widow and the oil…

 The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.” 

Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?”“Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.” 

Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.” 

She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.”But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing. 

She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.”

2Kgs.4.1-7

The widow and the coins…Mark 12

The widow and the unjust judge…Luke 8

Anna…we usually only speak of her at Christmas…Luke 2,3

She must have been about the same age as Ruth when she became a widow…she stayed a widow and dedicated herself wholly to the Lord and is rewarded by seeing the Savior …whereas Ruth’s plan was to remarry and become part of the lineage of the Savior…

Paul exhorts Timothy about care of widows 1 Timothy 5…

Dorcas cared for the widows…in Acts 9…

Thank YOU…

https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-widows.html

https://biblestudyforyou.com/verses-about-widows-in-the-bible/

https://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/bible-verses-about-widows/

https://www.beliefnet.com/faiths/christianity/6-inspiring-stories-of-courageous-widows-in-the-bible.aspx

https://christianpure.com/learn/widows-bible/

https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Widows

https://sharonwilharm.com/widows-in-the-bible/#dorcas

https://www.askayoungwidow.com/widows-in-the-bible/

 “Do not take advantage of the widow or the fatherless. 

If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry. 

My anger will be aroused, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives will become widows and your children orphans…

Exod.22.22-24

 Sing to God, sing in praise of his name,extol him who rides on the clouds;rejoice before him—his name is the Lord. 

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,is God in his holy dwelling.

Ps.68.4-5

 Learn to do right; seek justice.Defend the oppressed.Take up the cause of the fatherless;plead the case of the widow.

Isa.1.17

  “Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame.Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated.You will forget the shame of your youthand remember no more the reproach of your widowhood. 

For your Maker is your husband—the Lord Almighty is his name—the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer;he is called the God of all the earth.

Isa.54.4-5

Is He Worthy…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auHMeQit4Wk