Deuteronomy 10:18-19
He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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What's striking here is that God's love for the sojourner isn't just a passive feeling; it's demonstrated through concrete actions of providing food and clothing. This shows us that God's compassion is practical, actively addressing the needs of the vulnerable. It's a powerful reminder that our faith should also translate into tangible care for those on the margins.
This verse appears right after Moses recounts God's mighty acts and covenant faithfulness, culminating in the giving of the Ten Commandments. God has just declared what He requires of Israel: to fear Him, love Him, walk in His ways, serve Him, and keep His commands. This verse explains that God's character, as demonstrated by His actions, is one of deep care for the vulnerable – the orphan, the widow, and the foreigner – and this is the kind of heart He expects His people to reflect.
What does God do when the vulnerable are wronged? It’s more than just an observation; it’s an active pursuit.
This verse reveals a God who is deeply invested in justice, especially for those who have no one else to defend them.
Divine Intervention:
God doesn't just hope for justice; He executes it. This means He actively intervenes to right wrongs, acting as the ultimate judge and advocate. He doesn't overlook the plight of the fatherless (orphans) and the widow, who in ancient society were extremely vulnerable.
A Personal Mandate:
This divine characteristic isn't just for God's private use; it has implications for us. Because God pleads the cause of the defenseless, He expects His people to do the same. Our obedience is a reflection of His character.
God's love isn't abstract. For the stranger, it’s practical, tangible, and life-sustaining.
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The love God shows to the sojourner (foreigner) is demonstrated through concrete actions: providing food and clothing.
Love as Action:
This highlights that divine love is not merely an emotion but is expressed through tangible acts of care and provision. God sees the needs of those on the margins – the stranger who might be struggling to survive in a foreign land – and He meets those needs.
A Mirror for Us:
This example serves as a powerful model for how we should love others, especially those who are different from us or in difficult circumstances. Our love should move beyond words to actions that provide for the essential needs of those around us.
Understand the original words
mishpat · Hebrew Noun
The active administration of righteousness and the righting of wrongs according to God’s holy standard. It involves providing for the oppressed and ensuring that legal and moral wrongs are corrected.
ger · Hebrew Noun
A person living in a land not their own, often without legal rights or family protection. In the biblical context, God commands special care for them as a reflection of His own character of compassion for the vulnerable.
This Psalm echoes Deuteronomy's message, stating directly that the Lord watches over the sojourner and upholds the fatherless and the widow, reinforcing God's heart for the vulnerable.
Luke 10:30-37The parable of the Good Samaritan powerfully illustrates God's heart by showing that true love for neighbor, like God's love, extends even to those considered 'outsiders,' providing practical care and compassion.
James 1:27This verse directly connects 'pure and undefiled religion' with caring for the fatherless and widows, showing how this aspect of God's character is meant to be reflected in the lives of His followers.
Exodus 22:21This earlier command in Exodus shows the consistent nature of God's law, reminding Israel that because they were once strangers in Egypt, they must not mistreat or oppress sojourners, mirroring God's own protective stance.
gillDeuteronomy 10:18: "He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment."
He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow,.... Who have none to help them, and whose patron and defender he is, and will do them justice himself, and take care that it is done them by others, or avenge their injuries, for he is a Father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widow, in his holy habitation; Psalm 68:5 . and loveth the stranger, in g…
bensonDeuteronomy 10:18: "He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment."
Deuteronomy 10:18 . The judgment of the fatherless — He is so far from disregarding those who are unbefriended, that he regards them the more on that account, takes their case under his special cognizance, and is particularly displeased with those who injure and oppress them. Nay, he executes their judgment, pleads their cause, and maintains their right against…
What's striking here is that God's love for the sojourner isn't just a passive feeling; it's demonstrated through concrete actions of providing food and clothing. This shows us that God's compassion is practical, actively addressing the needs of the vulnerable. It's a powerful reminder that our faith should also translate into tangible care for those on the margins.
This verse appears right after Moses recounts God's mighty acts and covenant faithfulness, culminating in the giving of the Ten Commandments. God has just declared what He requires of Israel: to fear Him, love Him, walk in His ways, serve Him, and keep His commands. This verse explains that God's character, as demonstrated by His actions, is one of deep care for the vulnerable – the orphan, the widow, and the foreigner – and this is the kind of heart He expects His people to reflect.
This verse appears right after Moses recounts God's mighty acts and covenant faithfulness, culminating in the giving of the Ten Commandments. God has just declared what He requires of Israel: to fear Him, love Him, walk in His ways, serve Him, and keep His commands. This verse explains that God's character, as demonstrated by His actions, is one of deep care for the vulnerable – the orphan, the widow, and the foreigner – and this is the kind of heart He expects His people to reflect.
"He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt." — What's striking here is that God's love for the sojourner isn't just a passive feeling; it's demonstrated through concrete actions of providing food and clothing. This shows us that God's compassion…
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