Psalms 8:1
My Shepherd met me in His green pastures, rumaging about in Luke 18. I’ve been in this patch so often, I didn’t settle in, but thought I should move over to a fresher patch to feed. Then something caught my attention in the parable of the unjust judge. And the thought emerged as I read verse 9:
Luke 18:9 ¶ And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others.
Luke 18:9 is not a part of the parable of the unjust judge; it begins another one, the parable to the self-righteous.
I’ve always hesitated at the last sentence of the parable of the unjust judge: “Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” It has always been obvious to me that Jesus is questioning whether, when He returns, He will find any who continue to trust Him in a world of injustice and callous indifference. But this morning, when I read verse nine, another insight emerged: will he find any who recommend themselves to Him by their faith, or will faith be displaced by self-righteousness?
It occurred to me that the unjust judge was self-righteous. He had no fear of God, nor did he have any regard for man. He judged with reference to himself, his interests, independent of the interests of God’s or man’s law. His point of reference was his own interests and comfort: “Though I fear not God, nor regard man,” this woman won’t leave me alone unless I address her complaint.
One who does not fear God cannot be expected to have regard for his fellow man. He was unjust in his judgment because, having no regard for man, he was indifferent to justice. He had no regard for his fellow man because there was no fear of God (See Psalm 36:1; Romans 3:18). Selah!
Along the still waters, I reflected on these things. First, I saw that when men do not fear God, they also lack regard for man as created in His image and likeness. Men see men differently when they have “no fear of God before their eyes.”
Second, I saw that the way to deal with someone in this world with authority, who does not fear God, nor regard man, can be depended upon to have regard to their own comfort and ease. Persistence can overcome their resistance.
Third, knowing that Jesus is not describing God as aloof to justice, nor indifferent to the complaints of His own elect, the contrast He draws here is intended to enhance our faith, not diminish it. The truth about the world’s indifference to injustice, and callousness to injury, and the fact that the godless are responsive only to what disrupts their comfort, or personal interests, should not make us cynical, or jaded. Instead, the fact that such godless persons can be moved to our service by our persistence should greatly increase our faith that our persistence before the throne of our loving, just, good, righteous, and longsuffering heavenly Father will surely move Him to act according to His interests, so that we may have great confidence that He will act to “avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them” (Luke 18:7b).
Fourth, our Lord challenges us to keep the faith while we walk in this world that “lieth in wickedness” (1 John 5:19): “When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” Will He find it in me?
Fifth, and finally, will he find self-righteousness? Will He find only those who recommend themselves to Him by their works? Will He find any who are honest and humble? Will He find any who recommends themselves to Him by their faith in His goodness to respond to their prayers from His interests, trusting He has their best interests in view?
In the valley, as I knelt in the shadow of the Cross, and thought of Him who loved me and gave Himself for me, I felt quite overwhelmed by these reflections. At the Cross, it’s not hard to see His love, my unworthiness, His perfect justice satisfied, my great need of mercy extended, and my soul fully avenged of my enemy—Satan! Today, I heard Him again say, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). If I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who gave Himself for me, how can I hesitate to take up His cross, and walk through this world faithfully (John 17:9, 15), and present myself before His throne boldly (Hebrews 4:16), walk humbly before my God (Micah 6:8), with greater trusting and less grumbling (Ephesians 4:30-32)!
At the table, we enjoyed sweet fellowship as He clarified what He is looking for in me: Honest, humble, trust. He anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup with His grace. He beckoned to goondess and mercy to follow as He took my hand and led me into the harvest.
Praying for revival! 🙏
Going live asap:
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