Finishing the Story Pt. 8: Be the Spiritual Squeaky Wheel By Louie Marsh, 10-25-2026 1) Admit it – prayer is HARD. "1And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. (Luke 18:1, ESV) "12Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." (Romans 12:12, ESV) 2) We often wonder, does God even CARE? 2He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. (Luke 18:2, ESV) There were three courts that existed in First Century Israel: first, a court called the Beth Din, presided over by three judges. It dealt with minor cases involving less serious crimes or a small fine. Beth Din means House of Judgement or house of Law in Hebrew. There was a second court called the lesser Sanhedrin, consisting of twenty-three men. The third court, the Supreme Court of ancient Israel, was known as the Great Sanhedrin, with a membership of seventy-one judges. This number was derived from the assembly of seventy elders that Moses had gathered about him. In order to be eligible to preside over the Beth Din, a man had to be at least twenty-five years old. From twenty-five to the age of forty they served on the lesser Sanhedrin; and a man had to be at least forty to be eligible for membership in the great Sanhedrin. All judges had to be men of irreproachable character, men of intelligence, learning, and fine discrimination and balanced judgment. They were not compensated as judges. They were reimbursed, however, for any expenses in attending the court and for the time away from their work. The minor court, the Beth Din, held its sessions at the gates of the little towns. Every town, every city, every center of population in ancient Palestine and the countries in which Jews resided had to at least have a Beth Din. The Romans kept out of things as long as their subjects maintained order and paid their taxes. They also demanded final say over any executions. So in all likelihood it was a Beth Din judge that Jesus is referring to here. "8but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8, ESV) 3) If you don't see God's answer – don't QUIT PRAYING. 3And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, 'Give me justice against my adversary.' (Luke 18:3, ESV) Widows in Jesus day were far from helpless. About one-third of all property was owned by women, two-thirds by men. This fact shows that women were not social equals of men. Yet the proportion of property owned by women is also large enough to suggest women's ownership was by no means unusual. Under Roman law, both women and men technically owned no property until their father died. At that time, they inherited property from him. The social convention was to give children roughly equal shares of the estate. Adult children whose fathers had died became legally independent, whether they were male or female. So this woman probably owned property and her adversary was more than likely trying to take it from her or not give her the amount agreed upon to purchase it. Whatever the problem was the widow was, as all people are who go to court are, at the mercy of the judge. Her motto – No Justice No Peace! "16Rejoice always, 17pray without ceasing, 18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19Do not quench the Spirit." (1 Thessalonians 5:16–19, ESV) 4) If I'm praying for the right thing, EVENTUALLY God will answer. 4For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, 'Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.'" (Luke 18:4-5, ESV) As things got more heated the judge became concerned. He thought to himself, "Even though I don't fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!" The expression "beat me down" (other translations say, "wear me out.") literally means "to strike under the eye." That's right, the judge was worried this woman was going to punch him out and give him a black eye! Can you believe that? So he caved in and granted her the justice she sought, not because he cared but so she'd finally go away and leave him in peace. "14And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us." (1 John 5:14, ESV) 5) Don't FEAR – God is far better than this horrible judge. 6And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily… (Luke 18:6–8a, ESV) "8But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." (2 Peter 3:8–9, ESV) 6) When Jesus returns will we still FOLLOW the widow's example? Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"" (Luke 18:8b, ESV) "20He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!" (Revelation 22:20, ESV)
