Avenge Me Of Mine Adversary! Series

I have read many books on prayer including all E M Bounds books on the topic. Recently I read a book called “Unrelenting Prayer” by a man called Bob Sorge. Bob Sorge was a pastor and worship leader, who several years ago, suffered an accident to his throat. Can you think of anything more horrible happening to a preacher...and a worship leader?

However in the book "Unrelenting Prayer" Bob Sorge has given one of the best expositions of Luke 18:1-8:

"And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" Luke 18:1-8 KJV

Below is how it spoke to me!

Here was a woman of Israel, a widow with no male to represent her so you can imagine her lot when she was faced with an adversary (probably a man) who wanted to take advantage of her now that she was a widow. In the Israel of that time she has no representative (we thank God for all our family and relatives who can rally by us with their faith and assistance) and so has to take matters into her own hands. To add insult to injury she has to approach an unjust judge as Jesus said, a judge who feared not God nor regarded man.

As far as we can see this widow’s case is doomed huh? But the widow refused to see it that way! She had only one recourse, and no other support or assistance was in her sight, so she took the only route open to her. She approached the unjust judge…who of course did not listen to her! So what does she do? Does she turn away defeated and throw up her hands in despair? Does she turn over lie down and die because no one cared?

NO absolutely NOT!

That judge simply did not know what he had just let himself in for! She camped on his doorstep, and cried every time she saw him “AVENGE ME OF MINE ADVERSARY!”

He would not listen!

She waylaid him in the streets “AVENGE ME OF MINE ADVERSARY!”

He would not listen!

She waited when he came out of his office “AVENGE ME OF MINE ADVERSARY!”

He studiously ignored her!

Next day she repeated the process all over “AVENGE ME OF MINE ADVERSARY!”

... and the next day…and the next…“AVENGE ME OF MINE ADVERSARY!”

She just did not know how to give up or when to give up!

NO! She simply could NOT afford to give up!

Her attitude spoke loudly: If I die then I die but I will die trying for this is the ONLY venue open to me and I will work it for all it is worth… “AVENGE ME OF MINE ADVERSARY!”

I will knock on your door, I will rap at your window, I will cry after you in the street, I will follow you to the market place and back home.

I will continue to call on you to...

“AVENGE ME OF MINE ADVERSARY!”

Can you see her peering in at the restaurant window where the judge is sitting down to dinner with his wife?

“Yoo! Hoo! AVENGE ME OF MINE ADVERSARY!” Can you hear the judge’s wife asking, “Who is that woman? Get rid of her!" All the unceasing cry is finally getting to the judge and he decides to do as the woman wanted “lest by her continual coming she weary me”!!!

Now comes the sweet part! Jesus said “And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though He bear long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily.” See the paradox? Though HE bear LONG with them yet HE will avenge them SPEEDILY!!! How can you bear LONG and yet do it SPEEDILY?

Then you picture the LORD on His throne hearing the cry from out of your heart, pouring from your lips, as in all your afflicted, storm tossed, pain filled being you are tearfully crying, “AVENGE ME OF MINE ADVERSARY!”