The Simplicity of Prayer – It must be first for the waiting disciple
1 I exhort
therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and
giving of thanks, be made for all men;
The preeminence of pray is in Jesus’ witness to the
importance of praying. In Luke 18, Jesus
gives one of the most riveting examples of perseverance in prayer leaving no
question of His support of the preeminence of prayer to face a hostile world in
which God’s people need to have patient endurance.
Luke 18:1-8
1 And he spake a
parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to
faint; 2
Saying, 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. 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. 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. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find
faith on the earth? (KJV)
This passage teaches us that we are disciples tasked with
waiting for deliverance. We are not good
at this.
The illustration in this passage is a woman who lives and
functions in an authority structure unconcerned with her existence. Since her husband’s death, the society around
her, for the most part, is completely oblivious to the fact that she even exists. In this case, she is disconnected from legal
recourse through an advocate to defend her from her adversary (enemy, someone
pursuing you at law). Now, alone she
must recreate a connection which in the illustration appears hopeless. As she attempts to make this connection her
urgency is driven by a sense of hopelessness that someone will plead her case.
In Luke 18, the woman implores the one, who should be most
concerned that justice be done in her behalf, the judge; yet there is no
immediate response from him. In like
manner, God does not always respond immediately to His waiting disciples; and
we must continue to pray before Him.
A waiting disciple alone in a hostile environment is often trapped
by feelings of being alone and is burdened with a sense of hopeless disconnection.
Our experiences in a society, so highly
desensitized to our beliefs, way of life, or so little concern for faith,
purity, and Godliness, wound our will. With
growing time, our separation from Jesus demoralizes our will to hope in Him. While in this condition, this passage admonishes
us to pray to God, the true judge.
We are to pray that He will vindicate us, rescue us, and
encourage us in this period of separation.
All too easily, we succumb to the thinking that there is no vindication imminent. Then, in a moment of multiplied stress, we
abandon hope and faint. Sadly, we even
think ourselves justified.
This passage admonishes us to pray with the expressed
confidence that our vindication is part of God’s plan for justice. In our passage in Luke, the word “avenge”
means “to make justice out,” “execute justice,” or “make justice evident.” The following support passage overwhelmingly explains
the warfare of the saint of God. God
will in His time come to take vengeance for all the suffering of His saints as
He strives with the spirit of men.
2 Thessalonians 1:3–10
3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren,
as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of
every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; 4 So that we ourselves
glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your
persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: 5 Which is a manifest token
of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom
of God, for which ye also suffer: 6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with
God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; 7 And to you who
are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven
with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that
know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who
shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord,
and from the glory of his power; 10 When he shall come to be glorified in
his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony
among you was believed) in that day.
