Our Just God!

One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. 2 “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. 3 A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ 4 The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, 5 but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’”

6 Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. 7 Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man[returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?” (Luke 18:1-8).NLT

This parable has so much to teach us! Justice did not elude this lady:

1. Even though she had no social standing

2. Even though she was existing on a meager budget

3. Even though she had no husband to support her.

4. Even though she stood in front of a man who by his own admission-neither feared God nor cared about people.

When you read this story don’t see it as being a comparison, that is believing that we can wear down God by insistent prayers!

"The widow, who speaks only five words, does not prevail because of her persuasive plea but because of her persistence. Sometimes too many words reveal a scarcity of desire or a lack of purpose. Jesus tells us long prayers and useless repetitions will not make God hear us any better. He already knows our needs”
Martin G. Collins

And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words .(Matthew 6:7).

This story in not meant to be a story of comparisons between an unjust judge, and our God, the Righteous Judge…no it is a contrast!

Our situation is entirely different from the widow in
Luke 18. You say how so:

*1.We appear not before and unjust Judge, but a loving Father. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons,by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!“ (Romans 8:15).

Abba was a term of endearment in the first century for someones Father, we would think of it as dad, or Papa.

2. We appear before God not as strangers, but as His children! The freedom we have to in a moment come into our earthly parents presence, points to the access we have to God through prayer!

3.The woman in the story was a widow, we are a bride! A widow can feel all alone, not a bride!

4.The woman went alone, but we have an advocate with the Father. Jesus stands right beside us!
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.(1 John 2:1).

5. To get help the woman went to a court of Law, we come to a throne of grace. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Heb 4:16). * From John Courson’s, Application commentary pg 388

"I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?” (Luke 18:8).

A question from someone who already knows the answer! The Lord Jesus Christ, looks at your life and mine, as we travel this road called life, periodically, we find roadblocks, obstacles along the way that can either deepen our trust our faith, or cause us to become cynical and doubtful.

In the telling of this story we are offered a glimpse into a life lived on the ragged edge of society, a life that knew rejection, a person who rose each day to challenges that must have seemed overwhelming.

That she received justice from a cynical, jaded judge, is the strongest of reminders form our Lord, that our "Just God" will do more (Through answered prayer)than we can possibly imagine!