The fourth widow has an adversary. Only one who has life in resurrection can appreciate this. The adversary with whom the heavenly man has to contend is living in the heavenly places (Eph. 6:1212For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12); Rev. 12: '7, 8). If our life is there, the enemy would seek to rob us of the joy of our new position and what belongs to it. The believer needs the whole armor of God in order to withstand this adversary.
"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? (Luke 18:1-8)
Many believers become discouraged when they see their life in resurrection but are unable to enjoy the new position because of the adversary who would withstand them. They may have learned constancy as Anna did, to walk in companionship and rejection as the woman of Sidon, and to prize the hope as the widow of Nain, but they have not yet discovered the protection from the enemy and his power. It is God in Christ who is everything to us.
Without faith it is impossible to please Him. Jesus is not seen with this widow. Every element is against her. She has only one way to turn-to God in childlike confidence. According to the account, she cried day and night. Was it because God was unwilling to hear? Indeed not. He heard the very first utterance. How He loves to have us in His presence! Is it not sad that the God who has gone to such lengths to have us must put us into trying circumstances in order to get us into His presence?
In the case before us, the widow has a real test, because the judge to whom she must present her needs is unjust and fears not God nor man. What can she do in such a dilemma? She presents her petition to the unjust judge, having recognized God's government upon her, to which she submits. There is recorded no effort on her part to seek help elsewhere, simply submit and pray. "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will" (Prov. 21:11The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. (Proverbs 21:1)).
This widow who has an adversary finds in Christ her only Protector. This is a difficult lesson for us to learn. It is hard, indeed, to turn from what the five senses suggest-from all that we have in nature as a prop.
Since the Great Shepherd has undertaken to take us to heaven, will He not see us through the wilderness? What leanness for those whose arm is the flesh! Good, indeed, for us were we reduced to trust wholly in the Lord for everything.
Are we buying that which is not bread? How great an emphasis is made today upon the subject of security. By much the same token, was there ever a day when there was so much prosperity and so little calling upon God,-so little trust?
The verse in the center of the Bible is: "It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man" (Psa. 118:88It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. (Psalm 118:8)). "It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes" (Psa. 118:99It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes. (Psalm 118:9)).