As Paul the apostle
continued to instruct Timothy his “son in the faith”
concerning certain individuals who attended the church in Ephesus
where Timothy was the pastor, he included widows and the care for
them in his guidence. Paul clarified that Timothy should minister to
“widows” who were “widows indeed”. Children and
families were to assist “widows” first as this showed
“piety” toward God, and in chapter five and verse five of
his letter to Timothy, Paul told Timothy in how to determine if a
“widow” is a “widow indeed” where we read:
Now she that is a widow
indeed, and desolate, trusts in God,
and continues in
supplications and prayers night and day.
The
verse begins, “Now she that is a widow indeed, and
desolate, trusts in God,...” As
though Paul wondered about Timothy's ability to know whether a
“widow” was a
“widow indeed”, he
wrote, “Now” which
means “but, and or moreover” “she that is a widow”
or “married woman whose husband had died” “indeed”
or “truly, in reality, in
point of fact, as opposed to what is pretended, fictitious, false and
conjectural” “and desolate”
which literally means “to make single or solitary” and implies
“one that is left alone and forsaken” “trusts”
or has “hope, confidence and faith” “in God”
which refers to “the Godhead who is God the Father, God the Son and
God the Holy Spirit”. The woman who is a “widow indeed”
puts her hope, trust and confidence in the Heavenly Father, and where
she may have depended upon her husband for support and care, she now
has a full reliance upon God for her daily needs.
The
verse goes on to say, “... and continues in supplications and
prayers night and day.” Paul
added, “and continues” or
“remains, holds fast to and tarries” “in
supplications” which are
“needs, indigences, wants, privations and penuries while
seeking, asking and entreating God” “and prayers” or
“earnest oratory and worship to God” “night and day”
or “during the nighttime and from sunrise to sunset”. The woman
who is a “widow indeed” will be a woman who intercedes,
entreats, earnestly worships, and expresses her cares and concerns
before the Lord continually.
When we think about Paul's
words, we may admire his description of a “widow indeed”.
Those who were Godly, humble, prayerful women who lost their husbands
to death were to be greatly appreciated, and these were the “widows”
Timothy was to care for in the church. Though they were “left alone
and forsaken” in a sense, they continued to be about the business
of God. As horrific as losing a spouse can be, those women who
understood their new role as intercessor, worshipper and prayer
warrior in the church were to be the ones supported by it. As we
encounter women who have become “widowed”, let us be aware
of their often feeling “left alone and forsaken”, and through
grace of the Lord Jesus' may we be aware of those who are “widows
indeed”.
Next
time Paul informs Timothy about widows who “live in pleasure”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the
daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to
Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”,
and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in
all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
http://www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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