Shall Not God Avenge His Own? Christ's Object Lessons, Chapter 14

Welcome to Shall Not God Avenge His Own chapter of Christ’s Object Lessons eBook

In Short:

The widow's prayer represents God's children prayer.

The children of God will be amply recompensed.

They shall see His face; and His name shall be in their foreheads. Revelation 22:4.

Avenge me of mine adversary

The widow would not give up nor become discouraged. She pressed her petition until the judge consented to attend to her case.

The woman had lost her husband by death. She was poor and friendless. Moreover, she had no means of retrieving her ruined fortunes.

Thus by sin, humans lost their connection with God. Of themselves they have no means of salvation. 

But God loves His children with infinite love and in Christ they are brought nigh unto the Father.

He has called them out of darkness into His marvellous light to show forth His praise, and to shine as lights amid the darkness of the world.

To Him the dearest object on earth is His church.

For the Lord's portion is His people; Jacob is the lot of His inheritance. 

He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; 

He led him about, He instructed him, He kept him as the apple of His eye. Deuteronomy 32:9, 10.

For thus saith the Lord of hosts: After the glory hath He sent me unto the nations which spoiled you; 

for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of His eye. Zechariah 2:8.

God's people cannot of themselves answer the charges of Satan

As they look to themselves they are ready to despair. But they appeal to the divine Advocate. 

They plead the merits of the Redeemer. God can be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Romans 3:26.

With confidence the Lord's children cry unto Him to silence the accusations of Satan, and bring to naught his devices.

Avenge me of mine adversary, they pray and with the mighty argument of the cross, Christ silences the bold accuser.

Unjust judge

The unjust judge had no special interest in the widow who importuned him for deliverance. 

Yet in order to rid himself of her pitiful appeals, he heard her plea, and delivered her from her adversary.

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. Luke 18:4, 5.

The judge had no regard for right, nor suffering. He 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.

The work of Satan as an accuser

As he sees that his time is short, he will work with greater earnestness to deceive and destroy. 

Satan is jealous of all who make Christ their strength.

Moreover, he seeks to accuse and condemn God and all who strive to carry out His purposes in this world in mercy and love, in compassion and forgiveness.

He showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.

And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee:

is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. Zechariah 3:1-3.

The prayer, Avenge me of mine adversary, applies not only to Satan, but to the agencies whom he instigates to misrepresent, tempt, and destroy the people of God.

Those who have decided to obey the commandments of God will understand by experience that they have adversaries who are controlled by a power from beneath.

Christ's disciples, like their Master, are followed by continual temptation.

The children of God are not left alone

In the parable of the unjust judge, Christ has shown what we should do. 

Shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him? Luke 18:7.

Christ, our example, did nothing to vindicate or deliver Himself. He committed His case to God. So His followers should not:

• accuse, condemn, or use force in order to deliver themselves

• allow their peace to be spoiled and passion to arise

• destroy their own confidence in God by indulging a spirit of retaliation

• think themselves forsaken by God.

Call upon Me in the day of trouble. Psalm 50:15.

Present to Him your perplexities, necessities, and need of divine help. 

Offer your sincere and earnest petitions as soon as difficulties arise. 

Christ does not leave us if in our ignorance we make missteps. His is saying:

I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. John 14:6.

He shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper. Psalm 72:12.

Crying to God

God permits trials in order that we may be cleansed from:

• earthliness

• selfishness

• harshness

• defilement

• not Christlike traits of character.

Furthermore, that we may come forth from the trials purer, holier, and happier. 

Thus when God's purpose in the affliction is accomplished,

He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Psalm 37:6.

There is no danger that the Lord will neglect the prayers of His people. 

The danger is that in temptation and trial they will become discouraged, and fail to persevere in prayer.

Turn away from those whose hearts are as steel and make your requests known to your Maker.

Shall not God avenge His own elect?

I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Luke 18:8.

Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. 

For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Hebrews 10:35-37.

Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts; for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. James 5:7, 8.

When the defiance of God's law is almost universal, when His people are oppressed and afflicted by their fellow men, then the Lord will interpose.

Concerning Babylon, the symbol of the apostate church, He says:

Her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. 

Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: 

in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double. Revelation 18:5, 6.

Christ will gather His children to Himself

There shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time; 

and at that time Thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. Daniel 12:1.

On earth they have been destitute, afflicted, and tormented. 

Millions have gone down to the grave disgraced because they refused to yield to the deceptive claims of Satan.

By human tribunals the children of God have been adjudged the vilest criminals.

But the day is near when

God is judge Himself. Psalm 50:6.

Then the decisions of earth shall be reversed.

The rebuke of His people shall He take away. Isaiah 25:8.

White robes will be given to every one of them. Revelation 6:11. 

And hey shall call them the holy people, the redeemed of the Lord. Isaiah 62:12.

Whatever:

• crosses they have been called to bear

• losses they have sustained

• persecution they have suffered, even to the loss of their temporal life

the children of God are amply recompensed.

They shall see His face; and His name shall be in their foreheads. Revelation 22:4.

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