We don't talk about oppression much in our society, or even in our churches, but some form of the word 'oppress' appears 125 times in the Bible. The Israelites were oppressed in Egypt (Exodus 1), by the king of Canaan (Judges 4:2-3), by other nations (Judges 6:2, 10:11-13), through the fall of Jerusalem (Jeremiah 39, 52 and Lamentations), and the exile (Daniel). Joseph suffered through different types of oppression from his brothers, Potiphar's wife and in prison (Genesis 37, 39–40). Hannah was oppressed by her husband's second wife who provoked and taunted her (1 Samuel 1:1-20). Where should we turn in the midst of oppression? When mistreatment or cruelty comes our way? Psalm 94 is a prayer we can pray to bring our hearts before God through oppression.
Psalm 94 (NIV)
1 The Lord is a God who avenges.
O God who avenges, shine forth.
2 Rise up, Judge of the earth;
pay back to the proud what they deserve.
3 How long, Lord, will the wicked,
how long will the wicked be jubilant?
Oppression comes from the sin of others against both us and God. It makes us feel like we have lost control as evil seems to prosper. Psalm 94 starts and ends by giving us perspective on oppression by reminding us that vengeance and repayment belong to God (v. 1-2, 23). God is greater than all people on earth and it is he who is the Judge of the earth (v.2).
4 They pour out arrogant words;
all the evildoers are full of boasting.
5 They crush your people, Lord;
they oppress your inheritance.
6 They slay the widow and the foreigner;
they murder the fatherless.
7 They say, "The Lord does not see;
the God of Jacob takes no notice."
Oppression feels like an aching heart, tension through your whole body, always sitting on a knife-edge, a fist squeezing your brain. Like your hands and your feet are bound and you're gasping for breath as wave after wave crashes over you. Oppression involves cruelty, affliction and torment, and feels unfair, pointless, evil and unnecessary. It can be inflicted by a government, a family member, a colleague, a neighbour, someone we thought was a friend. Psalm 94 describes oppression as being crushed and slain by the arrogance and evil of the wicked (v.5-6).
8 Take notice, you senseless ones among the people;
you fools, when will you become wise?
9 Does he who fashioned the ear not hear?
Does he who formed the eye not see?
10 Does he who disciplines nations not punish?
Does he who teaches mankind lack knowledge?
11 The Lord knows all human plans;
he knows that they are futile.
Psalm 139 tells us that God sees us wherever we are throughout the earth, even on the far side of the sea (Psalm 139:7-10). He sees all the details of our lives, when we sit and when we rise, when we go out and when we lie down (Psalm 139:2-3). In Psalm 94 we are told that our God who sees and hears us also sees and hears wicked people and their sin against us (v.8-11).
12 Blessed is the one you discipline, Lord,
the one you teach from your law;
13 you grant them relief from days of trouble,
till a pit is dug for the wicked.
14 For the Lord will not reject his people;
he will never forsake his inheritance.
15 Judgment will again be founded on righteousness,
and all the upright in heart will follow it.
Through oppression we should hold on to the knowledge that God does not reject his people and he will never forsake us (v.14). Whenever we experience oppression, we can take comfort knowing it is God who judges the earth and his judgement is founded on righteousness (v.2,15). Some of the wicked will face some judgement here on earth, but all those who don't repent and turn to God will face eternal judgement when Jesus returns (Revelation 20:11-15, 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).
16 Who will rise up for me against the wicked?
Who will take a stand for me against evildoers?
17 Unless the Lord had given me help,
I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death.
18 When I said, "My foot is slipping,"
your unfailing love, Lord, supported me.
19 When anxiety was great within me,
your consolation brought me joy.
Throughout the Bible we see how oppression caused God's people to turn to him in prayer. Hannah prayed through her tears, pouring out her soul to God (1 Samuel 1:1-20). The Israelites cried out to God during their slavery in Egypt (Exodus 2:23), when oppressed by other kings and nations (Judges 4:3, 10:11-15), when impoverished by the Midianites (Judges 6:6), and through the fall of Jerusalem (Lamentations). Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah prayed to God through oppression in Babylon (Daniel 2:17-23). Like the psalmist in Psalm 94 we can pray when we are oppressed, bringing our anxieties before God and telling him when we feel like we are slipping (v.18-19). We can call out to God, cry out to him, go to him as our refuge and our fortress, cling to him as our rock. We can pray to him asking for help, for wisdom, for discernment, for courage, for endurance, for whatever it is we need in our specific situation. We can pray knowing that nothing and no-one can separate us from the steadfast and unfailing love of God (v.18-19, Romans 8:34-39).
20 Can a corrupt throne be allied with you—
a throne that brings on misery by its decrees?
21 The wicked band together against the righteous
and condemn the innocent to death.
22 But the Lord has become my fortress,
and my God the rock in whom I take refuge.
23 He will repay them for their sins
and destroy them for their wickedness;
the Lord our God will destroy them.
For now, wickedness will continue here on earth. Our first experience of people sinning against us is unlikely to be our last. Our world is fallen and broken, as are the people within it. But we know how it ends, that one day Jesus will return and all people will receive either eternal life or face eternal judgement. Psalm 94 helps us bring our hearts before God as we experience oppression and it tells us God is greater than all oppressors. But the Lord has become my fortress, and my God the rock in whom I take refuge.
God bless,
Selina Fyfe.
