God Answers Prayer
Luke 18: 1-8 The Parable of the Persistent Widow
1Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart: 2“In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected men. 3And there was a widow in that town who kept appealing to him, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4For a while he refused, but later he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect men, 5yet because this widow keeps pestering me, I will give her justice. Then she will stop wearing me out with her perpetual requests.’” 6And the Lord said, “Listen to the words of the unjust judge. 7Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He continue to defer their help? 8I tell you, He will promptly carry out justice on their behalf. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?”
As we continue to examine the Parable of the Unjust Judge, we must not forget the main truth that Jesus is teaching, that men always ought to pray and not to faint, lose heart, lack courage or give up. The judge is described as one "who did not fear God nor regard man." This was a common form of expression for a reckless or unprincipled person. Such judges were common under the rule of Herod. The widow, who lived in the City where the judge ruled, kept coming to him and requesting that he "avenge her of her adversary. She was asking the judge to exercise justice.
The hesitation of the judge may indicate that he was waiting for a bribe before he would administer justice for this widow. However afterwards he said within himself, though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. The idea of is that the annoyance of the widow would wear him out. So he administered justice to her. The words of Jesus in verses six to eight are noteworthy... "and shall God not avenge His own elect who cry to Him night and day though He bears long with them? I tell you He will avenge them speedily."
The lesson of this parable is that God is not like this judge. He is unjust but God is just. He does not regard man but God loves and cares for His elect. He ignored the widow for a while but God never ignores His children. Even though the answers may be delayed, they are never denied. God answers the prayers of His children.
Father thank you that we can come to you in confidence knowing that you will never turn us away but you will hear us when we call upon you. In Jesus name. Amen!
