January 28, 2002

A WONDERFUL NAME OF GOD

In recent years there has been considerable preaching and teaching about the various Biblical names of God. Lord, Jehovah, Almighty, El Shaddai, Redeemer, Yahweh—each of these comes from a separate Hebrew word with a distinctive meaning. They show the many facets of God's personality and character.

There is one name I've never heard mentioned in these discussions. I think it is full of wonderful meaning. In Psalm 68:5, God is addressed as "Father of Orphans and Protector of Widows." This name gives us a glimpse into the profoundly compassionate side of God's nature, the trait in him that ultimately led him to send his Son into the world to die for us.

God is Father to us all, but no one can appreciate the meaning of this the way an orphan can. It is not just a nice metaphor for him; God is literally his only Father.

A widow in ancient Israelite society could count on no safety net. If there was a male near relative willing to help meet her living needs, she was a very fortunate person. Otherwise, she would be reduced to dependency on charity and begging. For her to be assured that God himself pledged to be her Protector was a wonderful promise of grace.

In the next verse of the psalm, God's caring nature is expanded to other classes of needy people:

"God gives the desolate a home to live in;
he leads out the prisoners to prosperity . . . ."

The homeless and the prisoners join the orphans and the widows in God's personal family. It's interesting how closely this list of needy people parallel's Jesus' list in Matthew 25:31-46. Others might be adopted through faith and may be given the right to address him "Our Father," but homeless, prisoners, orphans and widows are his nuclear family and his natural heirs.

This is a good name of God to remember. The next time you go to him with a need that grows out of your personal weakness and vulnerability, begin your prayer by addressing him: "Father of Orphans and Protector of Widows . . . ." This will remind you that your need qualifies you for God's grace in a special way. Often, we feel disqualified, believing we don't deserve his help. But we are actually prequalified as his natural family of needy people. The Father of Orphans and Protector of Widows is always there for his kids!

–Pastor George Van Alstine