Have your ever prayed something like this?
“Father, if you will just give me this request then I will leave you alone?” or perhaps said something similar to “Lord, I don’t ask for much but…”
What if I told you that those prayers approach God with a wrong mindset?
That is what our Lord taught us in the parable of the persistent woman who pestered a reluctant judge.
Luke 18:1–5 1And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; 2Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: 3And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. 4And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; 5Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
A poor widow had been the victim of some form of injustice and her only hope for help was dependent upon an unjust and uncaring judge. Since the poor widow had no bribe and brought no benefit to this bad man, he did not even hear her case. Instead of surrendering she insisted that he hear her, she kept coming and crying out for justice. While she couldn’t afford to grease the palms of this slimeball she believed that a squeaky wheel gets the grease, so she squeaked. While this unjust judge didn’t love the law and didn’t care for his constituents, he finally gave in in order to silence the noise.
What was the point of our Lord’s story?
Luke 18:6-8
6And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. 7And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 8I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
Is the point of the parable, that we can pester God into answering our prayers? Is Jesus saying that God is like this judge and we are to be like this stubborn and loud lady?
Certainly not!
To perceive the righteous God of the universe as an unjust and reluctant Judge is blasphemous. The parable’s point was more about contrast.
An unjust judge is hesitant to hear, our generous Judge invites us to come before his throne!
A reluctant judge will give in to persistence pleas, how much more would a willing one?
An unjust judge doesn’t love those over whom he presides, our Judge so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son to spare us from Judgement!
The woman in the parable had nobody to plead her case but we have a willing advocate in Christ!
So, here is the point, don’t think of your God like you are annoying him when you present your pleas.
Don’t offer a deal in which you promise to pester him less if he will just grant your request.
He has invited you to approach his throne, he even advertises it as a throne of grace.
Your presence through prayer does not pester your Father!
Keep coming, continue calling, your squeaky voice is like a song to his ears. Approach him with confidence knowing that if an unjust judge will eventually listen, how much more will your loving Father in Heaven?
9/8/20