Verse of the Day 4/19

Through the Bible - 1 Samuel 27-28, Luke 18:15-34

 

Good morning,

Yesterday's New Testament reading in Luke 18 brought us two parables on prayer.  For today's verse we'll go to the first parable in the chapter on the unjust judge.

The widow in the parable was relentless in her requests to the unjust judge. The judge finally approved  her requests with the following reasoning.

 

Luke 18:4 'Though I do not fear God nor regard man,  5 yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.'"  NKJV

The word used for "weary me" literally means "hit under the eye".  You might say that the judge finally did the right thing to avoid a "black eye" in public opinion.  Can't you see politicians and judges today doing the same thing?  They won't grant a request based on it's merit's but for fear of public opinion. 

 

Luke 18:7And will not [our just] God defend and protect and avenge His elect (His chosen ones), who cry to Him day and night? Will He defer them and delay help on their behalf?

⁸I tell you, He will defend and protect and avenge them speedily. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find [persistence in] faith on the earth?  - Amplified Bible

Some compare God to the unjust judge, that is not the point of the parable.  The Amplified Bible does a good job a assessing the situation.  If even an unjust judge will grant a positive response to a persistent petitioner,  how much more will God do for His people?

 

Read the passage below from  The Message.  Can you see the point in relation to today?  How many people are demanding their rights from the political arena but don't fear God or make their requests to Him?

The parable ends with a question, will Jesus see such persistence in prayer when He returns during the time of the church as it faces persecution?

Blessings,
Mike

mikevw@bellsouth.net
mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Luke 18:1-9

The Story of the Persistent Widow

18 Jesus told them a story showing that it was necessary for them to pray consistently and never quit. He said, "There was once a judge in some city who never gave God a thought and cared nothing for people. A widow in that city kept after him: 'My rights are being violated. Protect me!'

"He never gave her the time of day. But after this went on and on he said to himself, 'I care nothing what God thinks, even less what people think. But because this widow won't quit badgering me, I'd better do something and see that she gets justice — otherwise I'm going to end up beaten black and blue by her pounding.'"

Then the Master said, "Do you hear what that judge, corrupt as he is, is saying? So what makes you think God won't step in and work justice for his chosen people, who continue to cry out for help? Won't he stick up for them? I assure you, he will. He will not drag his feet. But how much of that kind of persistent faith will the Son of Man find on the earth when he returns?"    (from THE MESSAGE)