Comfort From a Just God
Notes
Transcript
Handout
My kids, especially when it comes to getting snacks are relentless in asking and questioning. Trying to get that which they desire. I know when we come to this passage sometimes we think that is what Jesus is saying. Nag God enough and He will give in and give you whatever you want.
The first word in this passage is de. A connecting word meaning and, but, now. We are seeing the second half of a thought that Jesus is giving. In the synoptic gospel of Matthew, Matthew mentions a point that I believe is what Jesus is speaking on.
9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake.
For this is the same point that Jesus is making in Luke 17:33.
33 Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it.
This is the same point that He is now building on in Luke 18.
Luke 18:1-8
Luke 18:1-8
There are two judges that are brought up in this passage. The unjust judge being one and God being the other.
What we see Jesus using is a Rhetorical tool common in Hebrew poetry called antithetic parallelism. That is the two thing being compared are opposite of one another, the one thing will reveal the opposite for the other.
Jesus using this is showing the justice of God.
God is Just
God is Just
The judge doesn’t care about anybody. He doesn’t care about God, that is he doesn’t care about morality or doing what is right in the eyes of God. He doesn’t respect man meaning he only looks out for his own will his own desires, the only reason that He gives the widow justice is because she is becoming an inconvenience to him.
The contrast is that God is just. God is good.
God cares about his elect. Jesus doesn’t say all mankind, but His elect.
Those whom God has placed His thoughtful, deliberate love upon. Those whom He has loved before the foundation of the world.
The elect are those whom Jesus later refers to as His bride. What we see is that God’s love is for these, and that He is good to them.
Sometimes we believe that God is in control, but we don’t believe that He is good, or we believe that He is good, but He isn’t in control.
Naomi believed this in the book of Ruth, he husband and both sons didn’t follow God, and they all were killed. Then she writes...
Ruth 1:20-21
20 She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.
21 I went away full, and the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the Lord has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?”
She’s a ball of joy. Call me bitter. She believed that God was in control, but didn’t think that He was good.
Some of you believe this. You see God as in control, but don’t believe He’s good. This is wrong an unbiblical thinking that must be changed.
Jesus is showing that God is a just God, a good God. One who will bring justice to those He loves.
Because He loves us, God calls us to come with our concerns.
Come to Him With Concerns
Come to Him With Concerns
Jesus told them this parable so they would know that they should always pray.
When we have concerns, bring them to God.
Concerns over what?
Not over who will win the super bowl.
Not over your desire for a new puppy.
Not even God’s direction.
This is very specific what Jesus is speaking of:
v.3 Justice against adversary.
v.7 give justice to those who cry out.
A term used of those who are being oppressed.
Have you gone through persecution of some sort?
Have you been treated unjustly?
Do you see injustice happening.
This injustice is what God says, bring to me.
Jesus uses the term, “not lose heart.”
Don’t Lose Heart
Don’t Lose Heart
The word is enkkakeo, it mean’s to be a coward, to lose courage. It is a term used of soldiers who would abandon their posts.
When you see injustice or persecution, does it feel like you try to do the right thing and nothing is happening?
Don’t lose heart and continue to come to God, He will act!
Psalm 27:12-14
12 Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence.
13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!
14 Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!
People are rising against David, bringing false accusations against Him.
He doesn’t lose heart becasue He believes in the goodness of the Lord.
Because God is good, he says to take courage and wait on Him.
In Luke we see that the Lord will come speedily to those who cry out to Him for justice.
Proverbs 30:5
5 Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
Every single word that God gives is true.
If you seek Him for a refuge, He will be a shield to you.
Psalm 7:10-13
10 My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart.
11 God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day.
12 If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword; he has bent and readied his bow;
13 he has prepared for him his deadly weapons, making his arrows fiery shafts.
God is our shield and like we have seen in Luke, a righteous judge.
The imagery that David gives of a righteous judge who is ready to execute righteous judgement on unrighteous man.
We see God as a warrior, who is skilled in violence, who is not afraid to leave the wicked dead in His wake. One that will defend the ones He loves with the brutality of a seasoned warrior.
This is the one who Jesus is saying continue to pray for justice. Cry out to God when you are being oppressed, He hears your prayers.
Your prayers are needed, not for God to know what is going on, but for you. Prayer is needed for perseverance.
Prayer is Needed for Perseverance
Prayer is Needed for Perseverance
This is why Jesus asks the question, “when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
We have this idea of faith that it is nothing more than having a belief or a strong conviction about something.
However in scripture we read time and time again how faith is not just a belief, but a belief that compels action.
This is why in James 2:14 we are told that faith without works is dead.
In Hebrews chapter 11 it’s all about faith, but how did that faith cause them to live?
Noah had faith, he constructed an ark.
Abram had faith, and he left all he knew. Later in his life Abraham would be willing to offer his son.
Moses parents, hid him.
Rahab, hid the spies.
In all of these we see the faith of people compelling them to the task at hand of serving God.
If you have faith and it isn’t demonstrated, I’d have to ask if you actually have faith, or is your faith dead.
When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?
Will Jesus find people doing as they are called to do.
Will we be like the servants whom the master left and gave talents to. When the master returns, will He find us using the gifts that He has given us for His glory?
Or will the cares of this world choke us out?
Matthew 24:12
12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.
In the end, the love of many will grow cold.
It’s easy to say, that’s not me. I’m stronger than that. But what isn’t easy is to do it.
Talk is cheap.
What Jesus is saying through is parable is through persecution, we must remain in the vine, we must continue to go to our source of hope for strength, not trust in ourselves.
If we rely on ourselves then I’m afraid we won’t have faith when the Son of Man returns.