May '25

"And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?  I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily" (Lk 18:7–8).

Jesus has some of the most creative ways of taking you where he wants you to go. The way he answers questions and illustrates his teaching is frequently not where I would have thought to go, and that's probably for the best. Take this one for example: He's teaching us to always pray and not lose heart (Luke 18:1). How would you go about that? What strategies would you employ?

Jesus goes on to tell this brutal parable about a widow who's on the receiving end of some serious injustice from an "adversary" (v. 3). With some creative license, this parable could serve as the plot for a page turning legal thriller/drama novel. Anyway, she goes to the judge, trying to get help and justice from the legal system. But we're told this judge doesn't fear God and doesn't respect people (v. 2). This is not the guy you want on your team. Without ordering his life in reference to God or people, what possible justice could this guy deliver? Even if he agrees with you, which is unlikely, how are you going to get him to care enough? And so, the parable goes on, she pesters him. She's a nag, a true dripping tap type. Over and over, she's there, reminding him of the situation.

Finally, he relents. He gives her what she's after. There is resolution. There's a happy ending. Well, kind of. To be clear, a key detail of the plot is that the judge is still awful and selfish. He literally only did helped because she was annoying him. But the adversary was dealt with all the same.

What's the point in this parable? And how does it encourage regular prayer accompanied with gusto? Jesus wants you to know this: Your situation is like and unlike this widow's. You see and experience injustice. Your world is under the care of a judge. You want him to intervene. You should go to him over and over. And he will act at some point.

But, God is good. He acknowledges himself and never acts apart from his own nature. He has regard for the birds, so how much regard will he have for you? The Psalmist writes: "When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him" (Ps 8:3–4)? He didn't spare his Son for you. It's his good pleasure to give you the kingdom. How much more should we pray and not lose heart?

"Pray then like this: 

“Our Father in heaven, 

hallowed be your name. 

Your kingdom come, 

your will be done" (Mt 6:9–10)....

Phil Brown