Lord’s Day, Vol. 3 No. 9
Pray and Faint Not!
Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint…
The burdens of life can often be so overwhelming at times that they threaten to rob the believer of his confidence in God’s ability to help him through yet another impasse. This parable by our Lord Jesus in Luke 18:1-8 teaches us the lesson to keep looking to the Lord in such times: “men ought always to pray and not to faint”. Prayer is the believer’s power with God. This parable encourages us to never stop praying even in the toughest of circumstances.
Verse 1 gives the teaching point – “men ought always to pray and not to faint”. Verses 2-5 feature 3 prominent characters or elements of the parable: (1) the undeterred widow; (2) the unjust judge whom the widow sought persistently to vindicate her; and (3) the adversary who was the source of the widow’s misery. Verses 6-8, the application.
The word “ought” in verse 1b carries the sense of necessity of duty or command. The key word is the adverb “always” – it connotes “time”, it means “at all times”, it speaks of constancy in prayer, a consistent prayer life.
“To faint” is to lose heart, to let despondency take over, to become discouraged, to give up, to grow weary, to despair, to be demoralised, to lose one’s motivation, to stop praying.
It is necessary for us to pray under all circumstances especially during afflictions and hardships of life. This was illustrated in the parable.
“2…There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: 3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.”
The judge whom Jesus described, was a contrast to what God is not. In verse 6, Jesus called him unjust. He “feared not God, neither regarded man.” It was his way of life to do what he thought was right in his own eyes, with total disregard to the plight of his supplicant. In short, that judge was himself a wicked man. He was a law to himself, he did not rule according to God’s law.
Ancient Israel was a theocracy, God ruled by His appointed judges. Judges gave the absolute final word in any disputes or judgment. There was no appeal. No higher court. The sacred appointment of judges was to mete out justice according to God’s Word.
However, when judges became corrupt, justice was perverted. The poor and innocent had no recourse but to cry out to God for divine justice.
The widow, in verse 3, was in great distress. In her helpless estate, being sorely pursued by her adversary, enemy or tormentor, she sought help from the judge. She seemed to have only one avenue for recourse – to appeal to that wicked or unjust judge – an almost impossible task. What did she say to the judge? “Avenge me of my adversary…” This word “avenge” means to do justice, to vindicate. The “adversary” was the reason for the widow’s misery and her having to seek redress.
“4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, “Though I fear not God, nor regard man;” 5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.”
Observe the unjust judge’s refusal to “avenge” the cause of the widow “for a while”. Consider the widow’s situation. She was at her wits end. There was no one else that had the authority to right the wrong that she had suffered and continued to suffer. She was desperate.
“Continual coming” is a key phrase describing the importunate, persistent, persevering character of the widow; not to give up but to focus on seeking help needed to ease her plight.
The encouragement is therefore that, under any circumstances, we should never give up but continue to trust our Lord.
“6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. 7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily.”
Our Lord turns His audience from the unjust judge to God Himself, who always do justice and does not fail in showing compassion for believers. Our God will always do what’s just and right and is filled with compassion to help His children. God will act swiftly. Jesus says, “I tell you that he will avenge them speedily.”
“9 Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”
Will the believer exercise faith to continually go to the Lord in prayer even amidst great persecution, unbelief and apostasy in the times nearing the Lord’s Second Coming? The time is nearing toward the formation of the one world church. Persecution will come when we hold fast to the old time gospel – Only Jesus saves!
When persecution comes, when we are helpless like the widow against overwhelming odds and enemies, we are exhorted to continue to pray. True believers will watch and pray, trust and wait patiently on the Lord. Will Jesus find faith on earth?
May the Lord find us prayerful! May the Lord find us faithful! May we never give up but always hope in God, continue to trust Him no matter what the situation, for He is in control!
Yours lovingly in Christ,
Pr. Lek Aik Wee