Bible Questions Answered:
I read the story of the widow who couldn't get what she wanted from the judge, finally he gave in, how's this to be for us in praying?
Shelia/ New York, New York
Bible Answer:
Text:
Luke 18:1-8 NLT
1 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?”
Jesus tells us this parable, (Recorded only by Dr. Luke.)
And because it is but a parable, we must glean, it's obvious message, while not trying to extricate, any odd dogma or doctrine, foreign to the word.
The judge, was apparently and ungodly man, we assume that because, he “feared not God,”cared not for people nor did he have any care to see justice done.
The widow, young or old, we do not know, and is not in the slightest germane to the story, has some where, some how been wronged by some one.
This either cost her earnings, or reputation, again, not told, and not germane.
Whatever, it was, it was of great importance to her!
Every time, the widow came before the insolent judge the answer was always the same, no!
More than endurance, determination, ruled the day, for the widow, had a just reason to go on forever in her pursuit, if need be, where as the judge, had not.
Luke 18:5 NLT
“...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!’”
Every man has limits to his patience, and the judge had gone beyond his.
Though the unjust judge was unrelenting in his pitilessness, his final verdict proved that though unjust at best, yet he was not stupid.
By granting the widows request, two things would be accomplished, she would have what she longed for, what ever vindication, that may have been, and the judge, illicit peace and rest.
Now our Lord, had a message in mind by telling this parable, and the obvious message was as He stated.
Luke 18:7,8 NLT
7 “... 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!
If a determined person, can find a measure of satisfaction at the hands, of an evil, unjust earthly judge, think what wonderful answers await a child of God, who is loved by his Heavenly Father!
Deuteronomy 7:9 NLT
Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps His covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes His unfailing love on those who love Him and obey His commands.
I Kings 8:56 KJV
"Blessed be the Lord, that hath given rest unto His people ..., according to all that He promised: there hath not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised..."
Psalm 33:4,5 KJV
4 For the word of the Lord is right; and all His works are done in truth.
5 He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
Psalm 34:8 KJV
O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him.
Psalm 89:1 KJV
I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.
Isaiah 58:9 KJV
"Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and He shall say, Here I am..."
Isaiah 65:24 KJV
And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
Nahum 1:7 KJV
The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in Him.
Malachi 3:10,11 KJV
10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house, and prove Me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of Hosts.
Matthew 6:33 KJV
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Luke 11:9,10 KJV
9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
John 15:7 KJV
If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Acts 10:34,35 KJV
34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
35 But in every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with Him.
- - - - -
Our God, is a faithful, loving God. Knowing that, will Christians, be doing great things in His name?
What does the Lord Jesus say?
Luke 18:8 KJV
"...Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?"
Friends in a day when Christian people will not even bow their heads, when at Mc Donalds
to eat a meal, nor carry their Bible with them anywhere to read, for shame, going to work, or to the park, nor speak of the wonderfulness of their Saviour to fellow employees, friends or family.....is it any wonder why the Lord Jesus, said what He did?
This was no compliment by the Lord, far from it, it was a rebuke!
We, without any doubt are living in the last day Laodicean church age. And age of beautiful whitened sepulchres almost at every corner, full of mesmerizing spiritual death.
Where oh where is the church triumphant?
Our Lord, has promised, He will never leave nor forsake us.
Certainly He has called us, why do we cower in fear, when our God, has “not,” given us the spirit of fear but of love and a sound mind?
Soon, the time for Christian people to show their love and gratefulness to the Saviour, will be forever over.
Soon, our record will have been written.
Soon, the books will be open, for all to see.
What will it show of us?
Matthew 10:32,33 KJV
32 Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven.
33 But whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father which is in heaven.
Mark 8:38 KJV
Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation;
of him also shall the Son of Man be ashamed, when He cometh in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.
Luke 12:8,9 KJV
8 Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess Me before men, him shall the Son of Man also confess before the angels of God:
9 But he that denieth Me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.
Romans 10:9-11 KJV
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.
Philippians 2:9-11 KJV
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
II Timothy 2:11,12 KJV
11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with Him, we shall also live with Him:
12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him: if we deny Him, He also will deny us:
I John 2:23 KJV
Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
I John 4:15 KJV
Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
Selah
