God sets the lonely in families(01-02-07)

ho rides the ancient skies above and who brought His people out of Egypt to the land He had promised them.
Proclaim the power of God, Whose majesty is over Israel, Whose power is in the skies.You are awesome, O God in your sanctuary; The God of Israel gives power and strength to His people. Praise be to God! (verses 34-35)
It is striking that central to this glorious setting is a strong statement of God’s concern for families (versus 5-6)
God created people to live in families but the world is fallen and many families are hurting and broken. So God shows special care for people who do not enjoy whole and healthy family life. God is ‘a father to the fatherless’. This must be a wonderful promise for orphans. What better father could anyone have!
It is surely an encouragement to all of us that when there are so many fatherless children today they have a father in heaven far better than any human father.
But we cannot leave it there. The Bible commands us to care for the fatherless and to introduce them to God who is THE Father. “Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we must care for orphans and widows in their troubles” (James 1:27). See also Deuteronomy 14:29, Job 31:17, 21; Psalm 146:9; Isaiah 1:17,23 and many other verses.
God is ‘a defender of widows’. It is shameful that when a man dies, his family will often claim his belongings and the widow and children lose not only their husband and father but their possessions as well.
Let us beware for our holy God is a defender of widows and it will not go well with us if we do not care for them and defend them.
God ‘sets the lonely in families’. Praise God for so many examples of Christian families who have taken as their own, lonely children, lonely students, and lonely singles. These families are responding to the prompting of God’s spirit and their reward will be great.
Action:
Do you hear God’s call? In truth, God is father to the fatherless, defender of widows and settles the lonely in families. The fatherless, the widows, the lonely can look to Him as their Father, husband and friend. In the good plan of God we all belong in family. God challenges us to act in His name as we demonstrate the reality of His love to the fatherless, the widows, and the lonely. What does He expect me to do today to set the lonely in families?
Prayer:
Lord, we praise You for the beauty and blessing of family life. May our family reflect the goodness of Your plan and be to the hungry an oasis of refreshment, to those who walk in darkness a source of light and to the lonely a place of comfort, friendship and security. May our church and community restore family to your original design and enjoy on earth the joy and happiness that will be fully ours as your family in heaven.