The Father Himself is the father to the Fatherless - Caring About What is Most Precious to Him

What Does the Bible Say about Orphans?

1. God calls Himself the Father of the fatherless.
Psalm 68:5, "A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows, is God in His holy habitation."

2. God considers caring for orphans to be pure spiritual service. (and) a religion that does not care for orphans is no religion at all.
James 1:27, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress."

3. God's people are commanded to care for orphans. To see an orphan afflicted, and to turn a deaf ear, is sin, even rebellion.
Exodus 22:22, "You shall not afflict any widow or orphan."
Isaiah 1:17, "Learn to do good; seek justice, reprove the ruthless, defend the orphan, plead for the widow."
Isaiah 1:23, "Your rulers are rebellious, and companions of thieves; everyone loves bribes, and follows after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless."

4. We can be the hands and love of Christ Himself by providing practical care.
Deuteronomy 10:18, "He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing."
Psalm 10:14, "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."
Matthew 18:5, "Whoever receives a child in My name, receives Me."
Matthew 25: 45, "Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of the least of these, you did it unto Me."

5. Orphans are to be taken care of with the same honor and provision as a Pastor or Priest.
Deuteronomy 14:28-30, "The Levite (priest), because he has not portion or inheritance among you, and the alien, the orphan and the widow who are in your town, shall come and eat and be satisfied, in order that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do."

6. A portion of all that we possess is sacred and belongs to the orphan.
Deuteronomy 26:12-14, "You shall say before the Lord your God, ‘I have removed the sacred portion from my house, and also have given it to the Levite and the alien, the orphan and the widow, according to all Your commandments which You have commanded me; I have not transgressed or forgotten any of Your commandments."

Adapted from Tom Davis, author Fields of the Fatherless.