Chapter 14—“Shall Not God Avenge His Own?”
This chapter is based on
Luke 18:1-8
.
Christ had been speaking of the period just before His second
coming, and of the perils through which His followers must pass. With
special reference to that time He related the parable “to this end, that
men ought always to pray, and not to faint.”
“There was in a city,” He said, “a judge, which feared not God,
neither regarded man; and there was a widow in that city; and she
came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would
not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear
not God, nor regard man; yet because this widow troubleth me, I will
avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord
said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge His
own elect, which cry day and night unto Him, though He bear long
with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily.”
The judge who is here pictured had no regard for right, nor pity for
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suffering. The widow who pressed her case before him was persistently
repulsed. Again and again she came to him, only to be treated with
contempt, and to be driven from the judgment seat. The judge knew
that her cause was righteous, and he could have relieved her at once, but
he would not. He wanted to show his arbitrary power, and it gratified
him to let her ask and plead and entreat in vain. But she would not
fail nor become discouraged. Notwithstanding his indifference and
hardheartedness, she pressed her petition until the judge consented
to attend to her case. “Though I fear not God, nor regard man,” he
said, “yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by
her continual coming she weary me.” To save his reputation, to avoid
giving publicity to his partial, one-sided judgment, he avenged the
persevering woman.
“And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not
God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though
He bear long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily.”
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