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“And
shall not God avenge his own elect, which
cry day and night unto him, though
he bear long with them?” ~
Luke 18:7
Our verse contrasts God with “the
unjust judge” in the previous verses.
This man was unrighteous—he “feared
not God” (Luke 18:2). He was
also without compassion and mercy—he “neither
regarded man” (Luke 18:2). He
refused to hear the case of the plaintive widow “for
a while” (Luke 18:4), though she was oppressed by an “adversary”
(Luke 18:3). The widow was one who
had no power to avenge herself. She
was easily oppressed and taken advantage of, if none would intervene on her
behalf. For all of this, the unjust
judge was neither compelled to relieve her by duty nor by love.
However, eventually, the woman was avenged.
Interestingly, the judge’s heart did not soften to her pitiful estate;
neither did his neck bend to transcendent justice.
He was made neither righteous, nor caring, but the widow won her case
only by “her continual coming”
(Luke 18:5). She found neither love
nor mercy with this wicked judge, but she did find justice, although it was
served both tardy and cold.
The contrast, and the lesson learned by it, could not be more blatant.
God is “the righteous judge”
(II Tim. 4:8) and “Shall not the Judge
of all the earth do right?” (Gen. 18:25).
God cannot forsake justice. Though
He is “slow to anger,” He “will
not at all acquit the wicked” (Nah. 1:3).
The unjust judge did not consider the widow in her estate, but God is “A
father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows” (Psa. 68:5).
Ah, but the contrast continues. In
His judgment, God is neither petty nor austere.
With Him is found mercy and love in abundance: “But
thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and
plenteous in mercy and truth” (Psa. 86:15).
All of His judgments of His people are bathed in mercy: “For
the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and
a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward: He doth execute the
judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him
food and raiment” (Deu. 10:17-18). It
is not only that He can show mercy, but “he
delighteth in mercy” (Mic.
Furthermore, the judge had no personal connection with the widow.
She was simply another demand on his time.
He found her an inconvenience—“this
widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary
me” (Luke 18:5). What was it
to him whether she found justice or not? So,
the contrast is furthered by considering the relation of the Righteous Judge to “his
own elect, which cry day and night unto him.”
These are His people that cry unto Him.
Though a woman could discard “the
son of her womb,” refuse to “have
compassion,” and “forget”
him, God says to His people, “yet will
I not forget thee” (Isa. 49:15). He
declares, “Behold, I have graven thee
upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continuously before me” (Isa.
49:16).
In light of this testimony, our text is a conclusion that cannot be
otherwise. The context of our verse
is a parable, and a peculiar one at that. It
is peculiar because it is prefaced by the primary purpose for the parable.
The first verse tells us, “And
he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not
to faint.” The whole must be
interpreted in light of this purpose, especially our text.
If this widow found justice at the hands of an unjust judge solely by her
perseverance, how could it be possible that the people of God shall not be
delivered when they cry day and night unto their Father?
And, shall their deliverance not be much greater through the hands of
their benevolent Father in heaven? Christ
also answered the question, “I tell
you that he will avenge them speedily” (Luke 18:8).
We must not think that our faith shall not be tried in this matter.
Christ frames the promise saying, “though
he bear long with them.” As
the people of God labor for His cause in the world, as they go forth to war for
the sake of His kingdom, they meet with opposition and oppression.
This word is spoken to us not to despair of His deliverance, for it seems
to us He delays it. It not only
seems that way to His people, but also to their enemies.
For this cause, they revile and mock, as they did David: “My
tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where
is thy God?” (Psa. 42:3). Do
we think the man after God’s own heart should have to wait patiently on the
Lord’s salvation and we shall not suffer the same?
Though we wait on the vindication of Christ in us, we must not despair.
“He will avenge them
speedily.”
We must give heed that His people “cry
day and night unto him.” I
see no promise without this cry. Our
resolve must be as the Psalmist who declared, “As
for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me. Evening, and morning,
and at
Oh that we would take up the cause of Christ in the world today!
Oh that we would be so jealous and zealous for His honor that we would “cry
day and night” in prayer, “Thy
kingdom come. Thy will be done in
earth, as it is in heaven” (Matt.
Your Servant For Jesus' Sake, Jeff Short |