Luke 11:8

8. Because of his importunity The word rendered importunity here means shamelessness. Whether shame be wrong or right depends very much upon what we are ashamed of. Some men are proud of what they ought to be ashamed of, and ashamed of what would be a true dignity. Very many are not ashamed to sin, and yet are ashamed to pray for pardon; much more to have others pray for their pardon. Others are not ashamed to pray, but are ashamed to be seen praying for others, who seek Christian intercession.

But the shamelessness of the man in the parable consisted in a persistence in his prayer which no shame could check or stop. He feels that it is no time for delicacy. So God may wait until he sees that we have, by our long perseverance, fully committed ourselves to a position which we may by his grace permanently retain. Thus a wise delay in him begets stability in us.

Note, then, that it is not true, in the sense that many affirm it, that our prayers have an effect on us only, and not on God. God’s immutability does not require that he should treat the same man who is first impenitent, and afterwards penitent, alike. God does immutably deal with men according to their works. As the same unchangable sun softens the wax and hardens the clay, so does God sustain and save us in our penitence, and harden and condemn us in our obduracy. Those, who say that prayer affects only ourselves and not God, can never consistently pray at all. It is impossible to frame a real prayer to God which does not imply that God may comply with our request.