Oppression, God's attitude to

God is concerned for the victims of oppression; he hears, sustains and delivers them. Christians are to exhibit the same concern.

God forbids the oppression of the poor and vulnerable

Zechariah 7:10 See also Proverbs 22:22–23

Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. And do not plot evil in your hearts against one another.’

God warns the oppressor

Jeremiah 7:5–7 See also Isaiah 33:14–15

For if you really correct your ways and deeds, if you act justly toward one another, if you no longer oppress the foreigner and the fatherless and the widow, and if you no longer shed innocent blood in this place or follow other gods to your own harm, then I will let you live in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever.

God condemns the oppressor

Psalm 72:4; Isaiah 10:1–3 See also Proverbs 17:5; Isaiah 30:12–13; Ezekiel 22:7, Ezekiel 22:13, Ezekiel 22:31; Amos 2:6, Amos 5:11; Micah 2:1–3; Nahum 3:1, Nahum 3:19; Luke 11:42

May he vindicate the afflicted among the people; may he save the children of the needy and crush the oppressor.

Woe to those who enact unjust statutes and issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of fair treatment and withhold justice from the oppressed of My people, to make widows their prey and orphans their plunder. What will you do on the day of reckoning when devastation comes from afar? To whom will you flee for help? Where will you leave your wealth?

God's concern for the oppressed

Showing mercy to the oppressed

Psalm 103:6; Deuteronomy 10:18 See also 1 Samuel 2:8; Psalm 146:7–9

The LORD executes righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.

He executes justice for the fatherless and widow, and He loves the foreigner, giving him food and clothing.

Defending the oppressed

Psalm 72:4 See also Deuteronomy 10:18; Psalm 9:9, Psalm 10:17–18, Psalm 12:5, Psalm 68:5, Psalm 146:7–9; Jeremiah 50:33–34

May he vindicate the afflicted among the people; may he save the children of the needy and crush the oppressor.

Delivering the oppressed

Job 5:15 See also Exodus 3:7–9; Deuteronomy 6:21; Psalm 35:10, Psalm 107:6 parallels Psalm 107:13, Psalm 107:19; Proverbs 20:22; Isaiah 14:3–4, Isaiah 49:26; Acts 7:34

He saves the needy from the sword in their mouth and from the clutches of the powerful.

The oppressed turn to the LORD

In prayer

Psalm 10:12 See also Judges 4:3, Judges 10:9–10; 2 Chronicles 6:38–39; Psalm 42:9, Psalm 57:1, Psalm 79:11, Psalm 82:3–4, Psalm 94:1–7; Revelation 6:10

Arise, O LORD! Lift up Your hand, O God! Do not forget the helpless.

In trust

Acts 16:25 See also Job 19:25; Psalm 42:1–3, Psalm 138:7; 2 Corinthians 4:17, 2 Corinthians 6:4–5; 1 Peter 4:19

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.

Christian attitudes towards the oppressed

Showing practical mercy

Matthew 5:7 See also Leviticus 19:10; Deuteronomy 24:19–21; Proverbs 31:8–9, Proverbs 31:20; Isaiah 58:9–10; Jeremiah 22:3; Zechariah 7:9; Matthew 6:3, Matthew 25:34–39; Romans 12:13; Philippians 4:10, Philippians 4:15; James 1:27

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Showing concern

Hebrews 13:3 See also Romans 12:15; Galatians 6:2; Colossians 4:18; Philemon 1:10

Remember those in prison as if you were bound with them, and those who are mistreated as if you were suffering with them.