Proverbs 15:25 – “The LORD [Jehovah; Eternal, Self-existent God] will destroy [pluck down; tear away] the house [home; family] of the proud [arrogant]: but He [the LORD] will establish [set up; erect; firm up] the border [boundary; territory] of the widow.”

Proverbs 15:25 serves as a word of admonition to the proud and a word of encouragement to the widow.

To the proud who feel they are above the law and common decency to their fellow-man, be forewarned—mistreat a widow, the fatherless and others less fortunate than yourself and your household will face the wrath of a holy, just God (15:25a).

Widows are of particular interest to God (15:25b) and the Bible has many admonitions and exhortations concerning His love and special care for orphans and widows.

Exodus 22:22 – “Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.”

Psalm 10:14 – “…Thou [God] art the helper of the fatherless.”

Psalm 146:9 – “The LORD preserveth the strangers; He relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.”

James 1:27 – “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction [need], and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”

Christ wonderfully illustrated the magnanimous care God has for widows when He hung dying on the cross and instructed the apostle John to take His mother Mary into his home and love and care for her as his own mother (John 19:26-27).

In his letter to Timothy, Paul commanded the church to, “Honour [prize; revere; value] widows that are widows indeed [i.e. without children and family]” (1 Timothy 5:3).  For the widow who might be tempted to see her life as one of loneliness, I challenge you to endear yourself to others by being a woman of prayer and a model of faith and trust in the Lord (1 Timothy 5:5).

Finally, pity the fool, thief or charlatan who dares take advantage of a widow upon whom God has said, “[I] will establish the border of the widow.”

Copyright 2015 – Travis D. Smith