God’s Word contains many examples of Godly, faithful widows who performed great works for the Kingdom of Heaven. They should never be considered as “second-rate” people. For example, let’s consider a few of the notable widows that the Bible highlights in the pages of the Old Testament.

Naomi

One of the key widows in Scripture is Naomi. At the beginning of her story in the Book of Ruth, Naomi was discouraged, bitter, and without hope.

This Old Testament widow left Moab and returned to her home in Bethlehem. Greeted by her kinswomen upon her return, she lamented, “Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?” (Ruth 1:20–21).

Naomi means “my delight.” This widow, however, instead told others to call her Mara, which means “bitterness.”

Eventually, Naomi discovered what many Godly widows in modern times also discover—that God is not finished with them yet! Truly, the Almighty would give Naomi cause to rejoice again. She lived to hold her grandson, Obed, in her arms and to influence the next generation for good. Thank God for widows such as Naomi who delight in the coming generation and take a joyous part in God’s plan for the ages.

Ruth

Ruth’s story flows from the testimony of Naomi. She also was widowed, bereaved of her husband, Naomi’s son. Ruth was a Moabite, and she left the land of her birth to remain with her mother-in-law when Naomi returned to her own home in Bethlehem. Ruth nobly and faithfully resolved to follow the Lord God of Israel. Her testimony was “thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God” (Ruth 1:16).

Once she and her mother-in-law relocated to Bethlehem, Ruth practiced the widow’s privilege of gleaning in the harvested fields of barley. The Almighty directed her steps to the field that belonged to Boaz. In due time, Ruth remarried, this time to her kinsman-redeemer. She became an Old Testament type of the Bride of Christ. Her great-grandson, David, would one day sit upon the throne of Israel!

Ruth the Moabitess would be named in the genealogy of our Lord Jesus (see Matthew 1:5). Many redeemed widows today are inspired and blessed by the testimony of Ruth, the Moabite stranger who trusted in the Almighty.

The Widow of Zarephath

To share your last bit of food with a stranger would be a difficult decision. Yet, the widow mentioned in I Kings chapter 17 was asked to make that sacrifice! She gave her last bit of flour to make flatbread for a roughly clad prophet who had emerged from the wilderness and made this request of her. By this act of selfless hospitality, the unnamed widow who lived in the Phoenician village of Zarephath served a cause greater than herself.

The widow of Zarephath experienced the daily evidence of God’s sustaining hand. God did not fill her flour barrel up to the top in one dramatic moment. Her cruse of oil did not overflow at the touch of the prophet. But God did fill both! Each day, there was just enough flour and oil for her daily bread.

This woman lived to see Elijah restore her dead son to life again; in fact, she was the first woman in history to witness the raising of the dead when her son was restored to life! Many widows have been inspired to follow her sacrificial example as well as trust God’s faithful provision for their needs.

In considering the lives of these three Godly Old Testament ladies, perhaps all of us would be blessed if we would cultivate friendships with Godly widows that we know. Such special ladies may have many talents and abilities that can be a blessing to us; likewise, we may be able to be of assistance to them. This mutual encouragement is how God has designed His Body, the Church, to function. Let’s not neglect the widows, who are an important part of His congregation.