Their lives are precious to him
Psalms 72 starts with Solomon asking for God’s love of justice and for help to administer justice as king. Then it points to the future king (Jesus) and his concern and compassion for the poor and oppressed.
“He will rescue the poor when they cry to him; he will help the oppressed, who have no one to defend them. He feels pity for the weak and the needy, and he will rescue them. He will redeem them from oppression and violence, for their lives are precious to him.”
Psalms 72:12-14 NLT
What would happen if their lives were as precious to us as they are to Him? I think we’d put a pretty big dent in poverty and oppression. Let’s do it!
Defend the oppressed
Seek Justice
In Isaiah 1:17, we are encouraged to fight for the people who are oppressed. There are people crying out all over the world in horrible situations. They are being taken advantage of. They are treated like they don’t matter. Let’s do what we can today to reverse this evil. Let’s fight for them.
“Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.” – Isaiah 1:17 NLT
The kind of fasting God wants:
“No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people.” – Isaiah 58:6 NLT
Often we try to please God with little ceremonies or other things which can be good but we often neglect the big picture items that God’s heart yearns for. God wants justice and freedom. Is there one thing you can do today to help make life better for someone?
“Again, I observed all the oppression that takes place under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, with no one to comfort them. The oppressors have great power, and their victims are helpless.”
Ecclesiastes 4:1 NLT
It’s devastating to know of all the oppression taking place around the world. But we have the power to make a difference. The power to stand up against it and say no – we won’t accept it.
Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners or the poor
Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor. And do not scheme against each other.
Zechariah 7:10 NLT
Are there any ways we could be doing this inadvertently? Can you use your creativity to find solutions to prevent this? Widows, orphans, foreigners and the poor were very likely to be oppressed in Bible times? What about nowadays? Are there any groups you’d add to this list that are likely to be oppressed?
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.” –
Luke 4:18-19 NLT.
It’s time for us to take action
There are so many bible verses about defending the oppressed and fighting for freedom. Let’s be the generation that ends modern slavery! If we band together with a collective yearn for freedom that is greater than the yearn of oppressors to get what they want from people, then we will win.