72 The Widow's Warrant

The Widow’s Warrant "Let your widows trust in Me." Jeremiah 49:11 The state of the widow is painful, and calls for pity and strong consolation. Having removed her head — who was her adviser, provider, comforter, companion, and stay — she appears exposed to the designs of the oppressor, the frowns of an unfeeling world, and the malicious darts of Satan! But the Lord is the widow’s Friend, and has made many sweet and invaluable promises to her in His holy Word. To every widow who believes in Jesus — every promise that is confirmed in Christ belongs. But some of those promises are hers in a special and particular sense. Of such, the Lord speaks in the short portion before us now. It is short — because He would not burden her memory. It is comprehensive — because He would include all her needs. My widowed sister, the God who has taken away your husband, proposes Himself to fill his place. He says, "Your Maker is your husband — the Lord Almighty is His name — your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel." Look at Him in His greatness, glory, kindness, wealth, and tender love — and hear Him say, "I am your husband! I will never leave you. I will never neglect you. I will never turn away from you from doing you good."

He proposes to perform a husband’s duties:

He will provide for your every need.

He will protect you from every danger.

He will defend you against every foe.

He will counsel you in every difficulty.

He will comfort you under all your sorrows.

He will be better to you than any earthly husband.

He will more than make up the loss which you have sustained.

He directs you into the way of peace. "Let," He says, "your widows trust in me." "I give them my Word — my Word of promise, the Word of the oath. My Word, which is stronger than the pillars of Heaven, and durable as the days of eternity. I refer them to my character. I have always been faithful and true. I have never falsified my Word, or despised a widow’s prayer. I welcome them to my throne of grace. There I meet the praying widow, and I meet her on purpose to bless her. There I . . .
remove her burdens,
dry up her tears,
cheer her heart, and
grant her according to her faith.

I promise to attend to her request. I will not refuse a widow. I will not deny her a blessing; but I do for her exceeding abundantly above all that she can ask or think. I will always be her friend; others may change or fail her — but I never will. I will be to her a God, and do for her all that a God can do!"

"Let your widows trust in me." This amounts to a command — as when He says, "Let every soul be subject to the higher powers." Your God commands you to trust in Him.

It is a warrant — as when His servant says, "Let us come boldly to the throne of grace." You are fully warranted to trust in your God . . .
at all times, in all places,
for all that He has promised,
for you do really need!

It is an exhortation — as when Paul exhorts, "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith, without wavering, for He is faithful who promised." You are exhorted to trust in your God, instead of . . .
yielding to fear,
dwelling on the past, or
doubting about the future.

It is a caution — as when the Lord says, "Let him who thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall." He cautions you not to trust in a friend, and to put no confidence in a human guide. Do not trust in man, however good or great; but, "trust in the Lord forever, for in the Lord Jehovah, there is everlasting strength!" Expect but little from the creature — for at best he is but a broken cistern. Expect everything from your God — for He is "the fountain of living waters."

Ask every godly widow you know, if her God has been faithful or not. Ask her, if she has ever been disappointed when she trusted in, and expected from her God. Ask her for her testimony, and she will doubtless say, "Not one thing has failed — of all that the Lord my God has promised!" Or, "You have dealt well with your servant, O Lord, according to your Word." Then do not yield to fear, and do not listen to Satan, for the eternal God says, "Let your widows trust in Me!"