“Now Jesus was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not lose heart, saying, ‘There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God, and did not respect man. And there was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying “Give me legal protection from my opponent.” And for a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, “Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, lest by continually coming she wears me out.” ‘ ” (Lk 18:1-5).
Then Jesus draws this contrast, “You just heard what the unrighteous judge said. But God, on the other hand, delights to bring about justice for His chosen ones, who cry to Him day and night. And will He delay long over them? I tell you that He will bring about justice for them speedily. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” (Lk 18:6-8).
I used to read this parable thinking of God as the judge in the story. As a result, it seemed to me that our approach to prayer was to badger God into an answer. As I studied the New Testament, my emerging view of God as the good Father, the giver of good gifts did not fit the unrighteous judge in this story.
Then it hit me. God is not the mean judge at all. In fact, the point of the parable is that God is just the opposite. God stands in contrast to the judge, not as a similarity. Look at the opening lines of the parable. Many of Christ’s parables start with, “The kingdom of God is like…” or “The kingdom of heaven is like…” But this story does not have that common opening line.
Because this judge is not like our God. This judge is not like the good Father. No, the point of the story is that God is the opposite of the unrighteous judge. God is looking to provide relief and answer to His children “speedily”; the opposite of the judge in the story.
But there is a part for us to play. The opening verse tells us that Jesus told the parable to illustrate the necessity of persistent prayer. Our persistent prayer is an act of faith, not an attempt to loosen the purse strings of a reluctant father. Our persistent prayer demonstrates our faith that God will answer. The necessity of faith in our practice of prayer is driven home in the last statement in the passage (vs 8). Will Christ find this kind of persistent faith on the earth? Will Christ see this kind of faith in His people?
So take heart. Let your prayers be bathed in faith. Infuse your prayers in the faith that your good Father “knows all that you need” (Mt 6:32). Do not grow weary of coming to the Father with your requests. You are not trying to pry some breadcrumbs from an unwilling father. No, you are entering the holy presence of the good Father, the giver of good gifts.
Thanks so much for these encouraging words Jay! I like “Our persistent prayer is an act of faith, not an attempt to loosen the purse strings of a reluctant father. Our persistent prayer demonstrates our faith that God will answer.” That’s a game changer in how we view prayer and how we view God. Something for me to chew on.