Black and Blue

Still in Luke 18. This unrighteous judge who did not fear God and did not respect man was being pummeled by this weak widow. She would not give up. She kept coming. Maybe she got a petition drive going, or organized a march around the courthouse. Or maybe she had a letter writing campaign or got her friends to post things on Face Book. Maybe she camped out in front of the judges door and called out to him at all hours of the night. Maybe she filled up his inbox with text messages, one after another, like Mike Tyson going after a defenseless opponent.

 

Jesus says he was getting worn out from her continuous coming. Every day she was in court asking if he was going to hear her case. The word for worn out comes from the area just below the eyes on the face. It stands for the part of the face that might get beaten and be rendered black and blue. Paul uses it in 1 Cor.9:27 in talking about buffeting his body to bring it under submission. It is a harsh form of discipline that seeks to coerce. She was pestering him and he was feeling the effect. She was wearing him down. Perhaps this would be a good model for diplomacy. Provide consistent, continual, and well-placed blows to vulnerable parts of the enemy until they are beaten down into submission and cry "uncle." Make them holler "enough."

 

Remember this story is about praying and not giving up. Do we have to beat God till He is black and blue to get him to listen to us and do what needs to be done? Actually no. This is a lesson in contrasts. God is not the unrighteous judge who has to be boxed black and blue like a street thug or terrorist in Get Mo to get him to "give it up." God is not some tyrant who could not give a care to your situation and need. But if a punk judge can be made to submit by a relentless widow, then how much more will a loving Father be persuaded to answer his precious children? God is not black and blue from our prayers. He loves to hear us consistently and continuously pray for justice.