10152022 – Luke 18. 1-10
This is just “basic background” information.
Acting upon the advice of Jethro, (Moses’ Father-in-law,) Moses selected “able MEN” out of ALL Israel and made them “HEADS” over the people, RULERS of thousands, RULERS of hundreds, RULERS of fifties, and RULERS of tens; and they “judged” the people at all seasons, the more IMPORTANT cases they brought to Moses, but every SMALL “matter” they “judged” themselves.”
The word here is ‘SHOFET,’ meaning NOT a judge, per se but a RULER, a kind of military leader, a deliverer from potential defeat.
Between17-19 individuals are mentioned in the scriptures as holding “this office.”
Important individuals included: Deborah, Barak, Gideon, Abimelech, Jephthah, and Samson.
There is ONE JUDGE and ONE JUDGE ONLY, and it is NOT a human being.
Only GOD has the right to stand in judgment.
According to the book of Deuteronomy: It was believed Moses wrote –
“You shall appoint “RULERS” and OFFICIALS throughout your tribes, in ALL your towns that the Lord your God is giving you, and they shall render “JUST DECISIONS for the people.”
You must NOT DISTORT JUSTICE; you must NOT show PARTIALITY; and you must NOT accept BRIBES, for a bribe BLINDS the eyes of the WISE and subverts the CAUSE of those who are IN THE RIGHT.
JUSTICE and only JUSTICE, you shall pursue, so that you may live and occupy the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
“CURSED be anyone” who DEPRIVES the alien, the orphan, and the WIDOW, of JUSTICE. And all the people shall say, “Amen!”
“THIS PERSON” was considered to be a “a SACRED person” and seeking a DECISION-AT-LAW was called “INQUIRING-OF-GOD.”
Moses is often REPRESENTED as “bringing a case to GOD” before rendering a DECISION.
All of which, takes us very nicely to the PARABLE before us today.
The story of “the UNJUST JUDGE and the PERSISTENT WIDOW” is NOT about “nagging prayer” or an “unwilling God,” it is about a God who BEARS the suffering of his people WITH THEM.
Again, the story is about CONTRASTS – on the one hand, a powerful-unjust-magistrate who can do, whatever he wants to do, and on the other hand, a poor widow who must take what she can get.
The woman appears by herself, meaning that she has NO MALE RELATIVE to speak for her. She is indeed powerless and poor.
On a POWER SCALE, the judge is on one end and the widow is on the extreme opposite end.
A very “cool word” is used in the translation. That word is “hupopiaze.” And the word actually comes from the world of Olympic boxing…and it refers to someone being STRUCK under the EYE.
“Give me a BLACK EYE” is NOT only faithful to the original GREEK, but it also paints a rather “startling and funny picture” of the poor widow, BATTERING this POWERFUL judge,
What is MORE the Greek version uses the word “TELOS.” “Telos” is another cool word used in the scriptures. It means the “goal,” the “consummation,” the “end of time,” it is future oriented.
So, a good translation might say, “She will keep on giving me a black eye until the end of time.” She’s NOT going to wear him out, she is going blacken both of his eyes, and then, blacken them repeatedly!
She is persistent, she pesters, she is constant, she is incessant, pleading, and bothersome. Which is to say that she is relentless and will keep it up forever.
She is bound and determined to get JUSTICE for herself, one way or another…even if it consumes everyday of her natural life.
This is ANOTHER EXAMPLE of the “rabbinic style of teaching” from the lesser to the greater…
IF this shameful, no-good, miserable, corrupt judge, will extend mercy and justice, THEN “how much more” will your heavenly father do for you when you call upon him?
Whereas “the caricature of the judge” is one of neither fearing GOD nor caring about what people thought, this sets up yet another sharp contrast of our CARING, LOVING, HEAVENLY FATHER.
Therefore, we should pray and never lose heart. Keep praying. There is power in prayer. God hears.
For the record: This is NOT a parable justifying being PERSISTENTLY PIG HEADED and STUBBORN. The widow was praised because her persistence was for JUSTICE.
Never give up. Be a fighter. Trust. Have Faith. Be hopeful.
And if you have to, when the bell rings, go to your corner, for the end of round one – but get ready for round two. And come out, a swinging.