INTRODUCTION

Divorce is not the only tragedy that can sever a home, the separation caused by death is often just as tragic. Throughout scripture, the Lord promises to minister to and defend those whose homes are broken because of the sting of death. Though this separation is not always directly caused by specific sin, it is a consequence of the entry of sin into the world. As such, the Lord shows Himself strong to those who feel its effect. Any time a home is severed there are difficulties, but the difficulties of losing a husband and father require special attention from the Lord and He is glad to offer His strength. The God of the Bible is the God of the widow and fatherless, and will not forsake His own.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For smaller children) Psalm 146:9The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.
  See All... says that the Lord "relieveth the fatherless and widow." One example is the story of the widow and her two sons found in 2 Kings 4:1-7 [1] Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen. [2] And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil. [3] Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few. [4] And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full. [5] So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out. [6] And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed. [7] Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.
  See All.... If God cares for the fatherless and widows, how should you treat them?
• Look up some verses on the fatherless and widow. What are some ways in which the Lord plainly declared His loyalty to those who lost loved ones?
• How can the loss of a loved one negatively affect a wife and children? How can the Lord take the loss and use it for an opportunity to show His faithfulness?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Thank the Lord for His faithfulness.
• Ask the Lord to bless those who have lost loved ones.

HYMN

Does Jesus Care?

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