Deut 10:17-18,20 - God, who is great, cares for them. We should emulate him. Remember how it felt in Egypt
Deut 26:12,14 - take the tithe and give it to the priest, strangers, orphans, and widows THAT ARE IN YOUR GATES. Not just a little either, until they are satisfied. Then go stand before God and tell him “I have taken the holiness from my house and given it away as instructed. I have not forgotten”
This implies God knows that we are inclined to forget
Deut 24:19 - “if you forget something in the field, leave it for the alien, the orphan, and widow”
Deut 24:20 - “when you pick fruit and miss some, leave them”
Deut 24:21 - “… Same jist”
Deut 24:22 - and you shall remember those that got doesn’t forget
2 King 4 - what’s the story of Elijah and the oil? All I have is oil, GO ASK YOUR NEIGHBORS to borrow dishes. But she doesn’t. She’s ashamed to ask for help and uses only her own. This is every widow ever. How often do you think “they seem so strong” yet they are because they must be. They wear a mask because no one cares
We, as society should find these people. We should make them strong. we should honor them. We should invite them to dinner. You should be their family. You don’t replace them, you don’t send kids away. You help and Love them. Parents have a mission and it’s not ours to supplant that, we should empower them to do so
Deut 16 - feasts but only the ones around harvest. v9, shavuout: celebrate with an offering. V11, sukkot: rejoice before God and invite son, daughter, levite, stranger, orphan, widow that are in your midst and remember that you were slaves. Tabernacles: gather and rejoice with your son, daughter, levite, widow, orphan
Nourish and include them just like you would your son and daughter. They’re a part of your family and should rejoice with you. They’re not a charity they’re a part of your life
Jer 7:5-7 - you want to be here forever? Be one who empowered wishes and orphans. Even in a time when the world says no one needs family, we need family