43. To Whom Will Ye Flee?

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Hymn: RHC 43 God is Still on the Throne 45 We Gather Together 46 A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

Isaiah 10:1-4

1 Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed; 2 To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless! 3 And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory? 4 Without me they shall bow down under the prisoners, and they shall fall under the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

To Whom Will Ye Flee?

OUTLINE

(1) Flee to the LORD (v1-2)

(2) Futile Flight of the Unjust (v3-4)

INTRODUCTION

Is there no recourse for the oppressed of God’s people? The psalmist cried, “Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me. Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.” (Psalm 143:9-10) All around him, there is wickedness. It is most unbearable. He sought to walk a righteous course. He could see no place of refuge till he fled to seek refuge in the LORD. His prayer was “lead me into the land of uprightness.” A place where there is truth and justice, a place of uprightness, he yearns.

The psalmist sought for deliverance from his predicament in a place of injustice. He meditated upon the works of the LORD, for He alone is just and always equitable. For even in the land of Israel, the people of God, there is great injustice and unrest.

Psalm 143:5-8 (KJV) I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands. I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah. 

Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.

Is there no way out of His predicament? He seemed to have been cornered by “beasts” who sought to devour him. He was in a precarious state. He observed the chaotic state of society and he cried out to God for mercy and deliverance.

Likewise, Psalm 11 is recorded the precarious state of God’s people who fled to the LORD for refuge.

Psalm 11:1-3 (KJV) To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee asa bird to your mountain? For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart. If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?

If the foundations of spiritual order in Israel have been overrun with doctrines of idols what recourse does the people of God have? 

Psalm 11:4 (KJV) The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.

God sees what is going on in the lives of the children of men. He is very concerned about the unjust situations that His people were under for they cried out to Him in their misery, seeking His intervention.

Psalm 11:5-7 (KJV) The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth. Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup. For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.

It is true that the LORD does allow His people to be tried. Just as Job had undergone when God allowed Satan to tempt him and his friends buffeted him. In his trials, he maintained his testimonies before the LORD. The LORD vindicated Job.

God is holy and because He is holy, He is righteous in all His ways. His righteousness is the outworking of His holiness in His relation with men. The holiness of God reveals our own uncleanness. The prophet Isaiah, therefore, confessed, in Isaiah 6:5 (KJV) Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. 

There is cleansing and restoration when men come to God in repentance and contrition of heart – Isaiah 1:18 (KJV) Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

For Isaiah, the LORD healed him – Isaiah 6:6-7 (KJV) Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.

The LORD also sent Isaiah to represent the Triune God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Isaiah 6:8 (KJV) Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

The work is going to be very hard because he will minister in the midst of hardened hearts.

Isaiah 6:9-13 (KJV) And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate, And the LORD have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land. But yet in it shall be a tenth, and it shall return, and shall be eaten: as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves: so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof.

Desolation will come but there will be a remnant that God will preserve in the midst of hardened hearts.

They are to trust the LORD and find refuge in Him in the midst of chaos and persecution.

(1) Flee to the LORD (v1-2)

1 Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed; 2 To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless!

In any society, the weak, the poor, the widow and the fatherless are the vulnerable ones. They often face to brunt of oppression from the abusive rich and the powerful. Here, Isaiah is called upon to pronounce God’s woe upon the unjust judges, lawmakers and other administrators of the law. 

The decrees of these people resulted in unrighteousness, and in unjust oppressions. The result of their activity was to produce hardship and suffering. How can such a nation continue? In this very description, a ground for the coming judgment is given. [E. J. Young, The Book of Isaiah, 356]

Our Lord Jesus’ parable of the importunate widow answers the question is there no hope for the oppressed? There is, we are to pray unceasingly and not faint.

Luke 18:1-8 (KJV) And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, 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. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?  

The burdens of life can often be so overwhelming at times that they threaten to rob the believer of his confidence in God’s ability to help him through yet another impasse. 

This parable by our Lord Jesus teaches us the lesson never to give up on the Lord: “men ought always to pray and not to faint”. Prayer is the believer’s power with God. Persistence in prayer is not the natural habit of the believer. Jesus uses this parable to teach this lesson. This parable encourages us to never stop praying even in the toughest of circumstances. Our faith cannot be seen but our prayer life can be seen, it is evidence of true faith. It gives hope to the children of God who are going through any trouble, call upon Him and He will help you. He is always fair, always just, on our part we must make sure we are on the Lord’s side.

How is your prayer life? How can we fortify our hearts so that when extreme adversity comes, we will not give up on the Lord? Our Lord Himself gives us this parable to help us. There is a saying in times of peace, think war. The preparation of the heart takes time, we need to be convinced and establish in our heart the right thing to do so that when crisis arises, we are able to handle them according to the Scriptures, receiving God’s blessing.

Verse 1 gives the teaching point – “men ought always to pray and not to faint”. Verses 2-5 give the parable featuring 3 key or prominent characters or elements of the parable (1) the undeterred widow (2) the unjust judge whom the widow sought persistently to vindicate the wrong done to her (3) the adversary who was the source of the widow’s misery, and verses 6-8 gives the application.

By way of a rhetorical question, verse 7 gives the contrast between the unjust judge and the just and righteous God, the Judge of all judges, who will certainly vindicate His children in distress who refuse to give up calling on Him. I believe this is the thrust of the message. Verse 8 then gives the punch line for every believer living in the days just prior to Jesus’ Second Coming to show your faith by your good work of persevering prayer. 

This is the test of true faith. When we stop praying, we stop believing. When we pray, God gives us faith. Faith keeps us praying and praying strengthens our faith, paradoxical but true. This is the mysterious interplay of man’s responsibility and God’s sovereignty.

As we think of the darkness that the world will undergo before Christ’s return to right all things wrong, the people of God have the LORD whom they can always resort to.

Key Teaching Point – “Men Ought Always to Pray and not to Faint” 

1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought (a necessity of law and command, of duty) always to pray, and not to faint. 

He spoke also a parable to them, which the King James translator correctly translated in the italics “to this end” to show purpose. Jesus speaks this parable “to this end”, to this purpose, “that” He is speaking to encourage, exhort, and give confidence in the heart that “believers must always pray and not faint”.

The literal translation can be “It is necessary always to pray and not to faint”. The word “ought” is used to carry the sense of necessity of duty or command”. Notice also this word for “pray” always refers to “prayer to God” in the NT. The disciples are to pray under all types of necessity. 

The key word is the adverb “always” – it connotes “time”, it means “at all times”, it speaks of constancy in prayer, a consistent prayer life. 

“To faint” is to lose heart, to let despondency take over, become discouraged, give up, grow weary, to despair, to be demoralized, to lose one’s motivation, to stop praying. It is necessary to pray in all circumstances, especially in the afflictions and hardships of life. This is illustrated in the parable. Who do you think is more important in the parable, the widow, the judge or the adversary? 

“2…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.”

The first word in verse 2 is the “judge” and the first word in verse 3 is the “widow.” I believe this is the emphasis made by Jesus here, these are the two key characters in the parable to watch.

This judge whom Jesus described is one who is not given as a symbol of God but is used to contrast what God is not, in verse 6, Jesus calls him unjust. He “fear not God and neither regarded men.” These words are in the “present tense” meaning it is his way of life to do what he likes with total disregard for the plight of his supplicant. In short, this judge is himself a wicked man. He is a law to himself, he doesn’t rule according to God’s law which is the guide for Israel’s judges. 

Ancient Israel was a theocracy, God ruled by His appointed judges. These judges give the absolute final word in any dispute or judgment for any criminal. There is no appeal. No higher court. Whatever an Israelite judge said to the criminal is final. 

The judges of Israel are to rule according to God’s laws. They are to reflect God to the people. Their sacred appointment was to mete out justice according to God’s Word. However, when judges become corrupt and take bribes, justice is perverted. The poor and innocent have no recourse but to cry out to God for divine justice. 

Our Lord is helping us to contrast between human judges and the divine judge who is infinite, eternal and unchanging in His justice. The purpose is to give us hope, don’t give up on Him, He will certainly help, patiently wait upon Him.

Then in verse 3, our Lord gave the description of the widow. What are widows like in Israel? Well, widows are the most helpless people in ancient Israel. They are despised and often the victim of unfair treatment. They have no social status, no money, women don’t earn money, have no influence, no husband to back or support them, most vulnerable and easily bullied. The most difficult is to be both a widow and childless, this is a double hardship. Such a woman has no husband to be a provider, and protector and also has no son or even prospects for a son to carry on the family name and to support her in her old age. While we are not told the background of this widow, we do see that as a woman, she is going personally to court because there is no man to plead her case or plead her cause. The OT is full of injunctions to Israel and her judges to care for the fatherless and widows, to relieve them of their afflictions. We can see also God’s judgement pronounced upon those who oppress the widow. Is she that helpless? I believe this is not the emphasis but rather her persistence. Verse 6 tells us that the judge says “5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.”

This widow we can see is in great distress and in her helpless estate, being sorely pursued by her adversary, enemy or tormentor. She sought the help of this judge. She seemed to have only one avenue for recourse – to appeal to this wicked or unjust judge, an almost impossible task. What did she say to the judge? “Avenge me of my adversary” This word “avenge” means to do justice, to vindicate, protect one from another or take just “vengeance”. It is in the imperative, a command. It involves the attempt of the widow to exert the force of her will upon the will of the unjust judge. 

This “adversary” is the widow’s tormentor. He is the main culprit for the widow’s trouble. This is the reason for her misery and her having to seek redress. This word “adversary” is used 4 times in the NT, 3 times in a law-suit situation and a fourth time referring to Satan, the Devil as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

Notice here the judge’s continued refusal in response to her continual asking. Here we want to pause to consider this widow’s situation that caused her to be so persistent. She was at her wit’s end. There is no other way that she would think of that has the power/influence to right the wrong that she has suffered and continues to suffer. It was so unbearable, she was desperate. The emphasis is not that one needs to pester God until He reluctantly responds but that He will vindicate His misunderstood and suffering people. The encouragement is therefore, under any circumstances, we should never give up but continue to trust the Lord, keep on praying.

We are to wait upon God as He works out His justice in apparent slowness. We wrestle with the problem of evil and apparent injustice in this world. This is what we call “theodicy”, the justification of God in the presence of sorrow and suffering in this world. 

Is there a God who cares, does He not know their sufferings? Well, the existence of the human race is the testimony of the long-suffering of God, if God would work according to His justice, we will all be wiped out. Jesus hasn’t come yet, it does not mean He is slack and will not fulfil His promise to receive His people to glory but He is allowing time for more to repent. 

The Widow’s Perseverance Paid Off (v5b)

“Continual coming” is a key phrase in this parable. It describes the importunate, persistent, persevering character of the widow, not giving herself up to her problem but focuses on seeking help needed to ease her plight. It is in the “present tense” in the original, the King James rightly uses the word “continual”. It is in the middle voice, meaning she is doing the pleading personally, herself. She was a fighter on her knees.

The word “weary” literally means “to strike in the face, torment”, it is to be understood metaphorically as “lest she wears me out.” Her continual coming at him perhaps because of her plight depicts her getting physical with her crying and pleading when she is not received. She was a prayer warrior, a fighter, not a spiritual weakling but she prevailed with God on her knees. 

The thrust of the parable is that she did not give up and her perseverance worked! The judge agrees to help not because he cares to do justice but for the sake of his own peace of mind. Our God is different. He knows, He sees, He understands, He cares. Do you realize that?

“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.”

To bear long is to be patient, to be patient in bearing the offences and injuries of others, to be mild and slow in avenging, to be long-suffering, slow to anger, slow to punish, God deterring the punishment of sin to allow time for repentance!

Our Lord now turns His audience from the unjust judge to God Himself, who always do justice and does not fail to show compassion for believers who suffer. Even the unjust judge will not tolerate pestering how much more our infinitely just Judge? God will certainly respond to His beloved one “his own elect” by making right the wrong that they suffer when they cry to Him. Our God will always do what’s just and right and is filled with compassion to help His children who are suffering. 

God’s response will be swift and very reassuring, Jesus says, “8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily.” 

“Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”

The interrogation particle is an inferential question to which a negative answer is expected. Shall He find faith on earth, No!

Jesus’ Coming – 1st and 2nd Advent (v8b) 

Jesus concluded with verse 8b, “Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh”. This is the context. Jesus speaks of the times of His Coming. For the listeners who lived during Jesus’ time, it refers to His first coming. But for us today, it applies to His Second Coming.

True Faith is Measured by Persevering Prayer (v8c)

Jesus concluded with verse 8c, “…shall he find faith on the earth?” 

Will the believer exercise faith to continually come to his/her Lord in prayer even amidst great persecution, unbelief and apostasy in the times nearing the Lord’s Second Coming? The time is nearing the formation of the one world church. Persecution will come when we hold fast to the old-time gospel – Jesus only saves! When persecution comes, when we are helpless like the widow against overwhelming odds and enemies, we are exhorted to continue to pray.

True believers will persistently wait with patient trust. Will Jesus find faith on earth? The answer is “no”. What a grave state of affairs for mankind!

 This is the test of true faith. When we stop praying, we stop believing. When we pray, God gives us faith. Faith keeps us praying and praying strengthens our faith, paradoxical but true. This is the mysterious interplay of man’s responsibility and God’s sovereignty. May the Lord find us prayerful! May the Lord find us faithful! May we never give up but always hope in God, and continue to trust Him no matter what the situation, for He is in control and He cares for you! 

(2) Futile Flight of the Unjust (v3-4)

3 And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory? 

Now, Isaiah turns his attention to the oppressors and the unjust men in Israel. Can they flee from God’s avenging wrath to mete out true justice?

Well, there were three unanswerable questions that Isaiah asked them.

“What will you do if a day of visitation comes?” That day will come in which God will visit the people and with it, desolation. That is the first question, What will you do? The day is one of visitation, but it is also a storm, a desolating, rumbling tempest, gaining strength in the distance. From afar it comes, from the place whence come evils upon Judah. 

To whom will ye flee for help? The only One who can give help is the One who truly controls the breaking storm of judgment. Ye will not flee to Him. To whom then will ye flee?

The Proverbs vividly portrays this scene – Proverbs 1:22-33 (KJV) How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded, But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: For that, they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

And where will ye leave your glory? And whatever else you glory in? During the breaking tempest of wrath, who can hold those things in which you now boast? John Calvin well said, “All the instances of punishment that now produce fear or terror, are nothing more than preparation for the final vengeance with which He will thunder against the reprobate, and many things which he appears to pass by, he purposely reserves and delays till that last day.”

It gives the believer hope to face the dark world today, isn’t it? That God is still on the throne. And when the last gentile is brought to the fold, then Christ will return.

How majestic this picture is! Before a whole nation stands the lone Isaiah. “What will you do?” he asks. You are confident that you can meet every situation, who thinks that all wisdom resides in man alone? Judgment is coming, mighty and gathering force. What will ye do? Oh! That Isaiah’s words could be heard today!

What will you do, you who trust in man? The day of judgment is coming. Flee unto Him who alone can save from the wrath to come! [E. J. Young, Book of Isaiah, 357]

4 Without me they shall bow down under the prisoners, and they shall fall under the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

Not only do you not save the glory that is yours but you yourselves will sink beneath the prisoners. You will sink down on your knees before the conqueror, who puts his foot upon the neck. And you will fall under those who are slain. Isaiah describes a full end and destruction. But God’s wrath is still outpoured. This is not the end but the prelude to greater judgments. [E. J. Young, Book of Isaiah, 358]

CONCLUSION

Dear brethren, the days leading to Christ’s coming again will see a time of great darkness and falling away. The lesson for God’s people is that we are to keep faith and keep praying. In the Lord is our safety and refuge. We can always resort to Him no matter how dark the days are. This is His promise to keep His own. Let His people therefore be encouraged and comforted to keep doing good. Amen.