‘Persistent in Prayer’
“And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth Lk.18:1-8)?”
This parable contrasts the character and attitude of an unrighteous human judge with the character and attitude of a righteous and good God. The human judge didn’t fear God or respect man. He’s irreligious, tough-minded, and compassionless. The poor widow appeals to him over and over again for justice, but the judge is reluctant to give it to her. He keeps refusing to hear her case, and yet she keeps appealing and pressing. Finally, he gives in, not because he has compassion on her or feels any moral obligation to hear her case. Rather, it’s because she’s bothering him, she’s wearing him down emotionally - “...I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.”
In contrast, “...will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night?” Yes! But not because they wear him down by their constant appeals; rather, he responds because he’s righteous and compassionate. He cares for his own! The answer to the appeals of God’s people may be delayed, but it will come. As we wait, we’re to do two things: pray and not lose heart. During seasons of struggle, prayer is crucial to faithfulness. We’re to appeal to God in prayer persistently, like the widow.
Christ’s Primary Concern
Jesus has a primary concern - “...Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith (faithfulness) on earth? Will he find faithful followers engaged in prayer, confidently expecting that they’ll be vindicated and that justice will be done. This is Christ’s concern for us as well. We’re the people of God in waiting, waiting for Christ’s second coming, waiting for resurrection and glorification, waiting for the end of history and the renewal of the cosmos. We’re waiting for death to be swallowed up in victory, and for eternal life to triumph. Will we be found faithful? The answer’s ‘yes’. We’re his people, we belong to him, and he preserves his own. We’re secure in Christ, and yet we need to understand that we’re not passive while waiting for his return. We’re to be engaged in activities that God has designed to help sustain us and keep us faithful. Three are given to us in this parable of the widow: prayer, rest, and expect.
These are disciplines that help sustain us in Christian faithfulness. But it should be understood that they don’t replace the primary ‘means of grace’ which are hearing God’s Word preached and participating in the sacraments. And yet, we’re to pray. Prayer is a renewing expression of communion with Christ. When we pray, the Holy Spirit focuses our attention on Jesus and enlivens his benefits to us, and we’re encouraged. We “...ought always to pray and not lose heart.” The idea is this: pray and you’ll not lose heart.
Rest & Expect
Then we’re to rest and expect. We’re to rest in the good character of God. The promise is that the God of the Bible isn’t like the unrighteous judge in the parable. He’s good, attentive, and he responds compassionately to the prayers of his people. He can be trusted to strengthen and sustain us in all the demands and exactions of daily life. So we can rest confidently in the grace of God given to us in Christ. And then we’re to expect. We’re to anticipate Christ’s return. He’s promised to come again, and he will come! This is our ‘blessed hope’, the Beatific vision, the expectation that we’ll stand in the unveiled presence of God someday, and know as we’re presently known.
As we await Christ’s return, we’re not to lose heart, but we’re to persistently pray and trust our trustworthy Savior. Are you waiting for Christ’s return? Are you praying for daily strength to be faithful?