Father of the Fatherless
Father of the Fatherless
A study by Elder Jim Piekunka
Luke 8:40 And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him. KJV
Ps 68:4-6 God is a Father to the Fatherless.
4 Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds — his name is the LORD — and rejoice before him. 5 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. 6 God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.
Rom 8:15-17 15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs — heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. NIV
Ps 68:5-6 God sets the fatherless in a new family.
5 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. 6 God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.
James 1:26-27 God’s true religion is to help widows and orphans.
27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. NIV
Ps 10:14 God is the helper of the fatherless if they commit to Him.
14 But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to you; you are the helper of the fatherless. NIV
Prov 23:10-11 Don’t cheat the fatherless or find yourself fighting with God.
10 Do not remove the ancient landmark, Nor enter the fields of the fatherless; 11 For their Redeemer is mighty; He will plead their cause against you. NKJV
Ex 22:22-24 Widows and orphans should cry to God when they need His help. He will hear!
22 “You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child. 23 If you afflict them in any way, and they cry at all to Me, I will surely hear their cry; 24 and My wrath will become hot, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless. NKJV
Prov 15:25 God watches over the widow’s borders, which include her children & her home.
25 The LORD will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow. KJV
Mal 3:5-7 God will fight against those that oppress the widows and the fatherless.
5 “So I will come near to you for judgment. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear me,” says the LORD Almighty.
6 “I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. 7 Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD Almighty. NIV
Ps 146:9 God relieves the fatherless and the widows.
9 The LORD watches over the strangers; He relieves the fatherless and widow; But the way of the wicked He turns upside down. NKJV
Deut 24:17-22 God will always be a provider for the widow and orphan. He doesn’t change.
17 “You shall not pervert justice due the stranger or the fatherless, nor take a widow’s garment as a pledge. 18 But you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you from there; therefore I command you to do this thing.
19 “When you reap your harvest in your field, and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. 20 When you beat your olive trees, you shall not go over the boughs again; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow. 21 When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not glean it afterward; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow. 22 And you shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I command you to do this thing. NKJV
Jer 49:11 God wants your trust & has made provision for you! God’s heart does not change.
11 Leave your fatherless children, I will preserve them alive; And let your widows trust in Me.” NKJV
Ps 9:9-10 Fathers are protectors of their family
9 The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. 10 Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you. NIV
- Matt 2:13-15 13 When they (The wise men) had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” 14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.” NIV
*Insert map 1 & 2 of Israel = 300 miles to Egypt
Ps 28:6-7 God and fathers have a heart to help others. They are not selfish.
6 Praise be to the LORD, for he has heard my cry for mercy. 7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. NIV
*Show photo of Brian Hollenbeck family
Isa 63:16 God’s faithful remnant always acknowledges God as their Father.
16 But you are our Father, though Abraham does not know us or Israel acknowledge us; you, O LORD, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name. NIV
Isa 9:6 The Messiah Jesus Christ will have the heart of the Father.
6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. NKJV
John 14:9 When you see Jesus, you should see Father God
9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? NIV
Acts 2:41 Receiving the Word gladly will motivate you to action.
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. KJV