02.15. Chapter 15. Prayer for Justice
Prayer for Justice Our Lord’s parable of the importunate widow is highly illuminating.1 The scene is a court-house; an earthly picture of that court of justice in the heavens to which the Word of God so often refers. There God sits on the throne judging righteously and maintaining the right.2 The suppliant widow represents God’s chosen ones, on earth despised and oppressed, as was their Lord in His day. The adversary is the Devil, as Peter tells us.3 Oppressed by him the widow is helpless, unless she can move the strong arm of the law to action. The church, and the individual saint, are powerless save as they secure Divine intervention. We must pray, or the oppressor triumphs; for we are no match for him except through Jesus Christ. But when the widow resorts to the court, so does the adversary.4 He is "the accuser of the brethren" ; and because he persists in his attack we must persist in our appeals against him: God’s elect must cry day and night." And here lies the reason why the righteous only can pray successfully. The unrighteous in life or desires defeat their own cause. for their ways and their case will not bear investigation, but rather give to the adversary a true ground of appeal against them. The law cannot help the lawless. God cannot aid the elect to do what is not His holy will: they must be able to cry, "do me justice of mine adversary." But the righteous, having right on their side, may depend absolutely upon God’s own righteousness. Sooner or later He will, because, being God, He must cause "judgment to return unto righteousness,"5 and this He will more certainly do since it is His own chosen and beloved people who cry unto Him, and this for the right to be done. "For the Lord is "righteous; He loveth righteousness: the upright shall behold His face,"6 that is, stand with confidence in His presence. That God is long-suffering over His elect is true. And this is mainly (a) that the godly may be perfected by trial;7 (1,) that godless men, and the world as a whole, may have the longest possible respite for repentance ;8 and (c) that the vast and complex affairs of the heavens and of the world of mankind may develop according to His eternal foreknowledge and the unalterable laws of His justice and mercy. The stages of the coming of His kingdom are foretold by God in His Word, and happy are the enlightened who patiently watch the aforetold developments, especially those proceeding before our eyes in these great times.9 But when the court at last acts, events move quickly: God will "do justice speedily"; and this His people who have waited for Him have constantly observed. Thus also it will be in the world-wide judgment and purging at the consummation of this age. That will be a period of literally unparalleled tribulation ; but for His elect’s sake God has determined it shall be brief,10and so He will act rapidly when once He shall arise for the salvation of His people. "In your patience ye shall win your souls [or lives, mar.]."11
1 Luke 18:1-8. 2 Psalms 9:4. 3 anudikos. an adversary at law. Here and 2 Pet. 5:8: Matthew 5:25; Luke 12:58 only. 4 Revelation 12:10, and see again Job 1:1-22. and 2.; and Luke 22:31. Exaites isa legal term, to demand that one be given up to punishment.	5 Psalms 94:15.
All things rise toward crisis; whether individual matters, or those of the church corporate, or the affairs of heaven and earth entire. And they control the crises who pray mightily and perseveringly, and in harmony with the will of God. For them Christ Jesus, our great Advocate before the Father, can guarantee a truly "complete "1 salvation—from judgment deserved, from the power of sin, and from the adversary who accuses and oppresses. But who are they for whom He can so wondrously prevail? They are described as those who "draw near unto God through Him that is, to praying saints who use His all-powerful name. The parties to the case must appear in court with their advocate, or they largely tie his bands. Christ’s high priesthood is in order that we may resort unto God, not to render it immaterial whether we pray or not.
(3) And lastly, it is the prayer of faith that prevails—that is, the supplication of the righteous man who expects the promised good. "George Muller believed, and because he believed, prayed; and praying, expected; and expecting, received. Blessed is he that believes, for there shall be a performance of those things which are spoken of the Lord."2 That man of faith well said that faith holds in our transactions with God a similar place to that which money has in our dealings with men. Our neighbour passes to us that which we desire in exchange for money; but God grants our requests if we come to Him with true heart confidence.