Viúvas
A Bíblia revela um cuidado especial de Deus pelas viúvas. Ao longo das Escrituras, encontramos mandamentos claros de proteção, justiça e compaixão, refletindo o caráter amoroso do Senhor.
A proteção divina
Deus se apresenta como defensor das viúvas, garantindo que não fiquem desamparadas. Ele acolhe os que sofrem e sustenta os que perderam seu amparo terreno.
4 Sing unto God, make music unto His name; exalt Him who rides in the wilderness by His name YAH, and rejoice before Him.5 In His holy dwelling God is a father to the fatherless, and a judge for the widows.
9 Jehovah watches over the sojourners; He relieves the fatherless and widow; but the way of the wicked He turns upside down.
12 because I delivered the poor who cried out, the fatherless and the one who had no one to help him.13 The blessing of the dying man came upon me, and I caused the widows heart to sing for joy.
Justiça e compaixão
A Palavra ordena que seu povo pratique a justiça, protegendo os mais frágeis e defendendo a causa dos necessitados.
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the case of the poor and needy.
9 Thus says Jehovah of Hosts, saying, Judge true justice, and show goodness and compassion, everyone to his brother.10 And do not oppress the widow, or the fatherless, the alien, or the poor. And do not devise evil in your heart, a man against his brother.
22 You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child.23 If you afflict them to humiliate them, and they make an outcry to cry out unto Me, I will hear and give heed to their cry;24 and My anger will burn, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.
17 Learn to do good, seek justice, set straight the oppressor, judge for the orphan, plead for the widow.
O chamado da Igreja
No Novo Testamento, o cuidado com as viúvas é expressão genuína da fé cristã. Tiago declara que a religião pura inclui visitar os necessitados.
27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
3 Honor widows who are truly widows.