237. Same Story—New Version
Years later I heard a new interpretation: that we all are the judge and the persistent widow is God who continues to ask us to do justice. Here is Version #2 of the song:
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We are the judges in the story
And we do not fear God or give respect,
But God keeps coming cause she wants justice
And she asks for it over, over again.
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We are so stubborn, and keep refusing
And God says, “Grant me justice, do it today.”
Perhaps we’ll wear out ‘cause God keeps coming
‘Cause she’s learned to persist and not to lose heart.
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Oh how she keeps on, she doesn’t give up,
And she never, never, never gives up.
Oh how she keeps on, she doesn’t give up,
And she never, never, never gives up.
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God keeps on and she never gives up.
God keeps on and she never gives up.
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© Copyright 2010 Ann Freeman Price
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Every time I think of the parable this way, first of all I smile as I usually do with the image of God as woman. Then I have to shake my head a little to move God into the persistent widow role, and to move all of us into the role of unjust judge. But it works for me, this second version, it works because we need and do have a persistent God who doesn’t give up on thinking that we can learn to practice justice.
