Isaiah 10:1–4 NKJV
“Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, Who write misfortune, Which they have prescribed To rob the needy of justice, And to take what is right from the poor of My people, That widows may be their prey, And that they may rob the fatherless. What will you do in the day of punishment, And in the desolation which will come from afar? To whom will you flee for help? And where will you leave your glory? Without Me they shall bow down among the prisoners, And they shall fall among the slain.” For all this His anger is not turned away, But His hand is stretched out still.”
INSIGHT
-Oppression in Hebrew is written as osheq and it means extortion, distressful, and unjust. The lawgivers, judges, political rulers and governors of the people, who make unrighteous laws; which are not agreeable to the law of God, nor right reason; and are injurious to the persons and properties of men; and which are calculated for the oppression of citizens, especially the poor, orphans, fatherless and widows. This is for the protection of wicked men, who have made no conscience of spoiling them. These grievousness taxation and oppressive policies are intolerable are to be engrossed and promulgated, published, and obliged upon the people; thus oppressing them. Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and to the writers who prepare trouble to force away the needy from demanding justice, and to rob the suffering of the poor people for their rightful claims, for the widows have become their prey, and have plundered the orphans. The Lord has His eyes on the poor and neglected, and proclaims judgment upon the oppressors.
PRAYER
Dear Heavenly Father we praise Your holy name. Every knee in heaven and on earth shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus You are Lord to the glory of God the Father. You are our only God and Savior. May You protect all the orphans, widows and the fatherless. May You heal our land from oppression and corruption. May You save us and vindicate us O Lord, according to Your righteousness and integrity. May You protect us from all oppressors dear Jesus. We love You Lord and exult Your holy name, now and forever. Amen
Further reading: Zechariah 7:10, Proverbs 22:22
Amos 5:11-15 NIV
“You levy a straw tax on the poor and impose a tax on their grain. Therefore, though you have built stone mansions, you will not live in them; though you have planted lush vineyards, you will not drink their wine. For I know how many are your offenses and how great your sins. There are those who oppress the innocent and take bribes and deprive the poor of justice in the courts. Therefore the prudent keep quiet in such times, for the times are evil. Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is. Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. Perhaps the Lord God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph.”
INSIGHT
-Amos a herdsman in Tekoa, prophecies against the Northern Kingdom of Israel during the time of king Jeroboam. Amos came to awaken the people spiritually unto the Lord. He spoke of the coming judgement, and prophesied against several transgressions including oppression of the poor. The political class charged duty against the grain and straw tax upon the poor, a prescription against godliness and honesty, but to enrich themselves. The Lord proclaimed judgment against them that, even though they build houses, they would not live in them and if they planted vineyards, they will not drink its wine. They also took bribes and denied the poor justice in court. This is a classical example of what is happen in our nation. Leaders have resorted to increase taxes and prices of goods and services at the expense of its citizens. Those who had graft cases have been set free illegally and have corrupted the judicial system. The Lord is calling these leaders to repent and mend their ways lest they come to judgement. The Lord is also calling each one of us to consider doing good always and turn away from evil.
PRAYER
Lord You perform righteous deeds and judgments for all who are oppressed. Lord You are close to those who are broken hearted and those who are crushed in spirit. May You have mercy on us. You are close to the poor, those who are discouraged by oppressive tax policies and deceptive court judgments, have mercy on us dear Jesus. May You deliver us Lord from every oppressive laws and rulership, that You may grant us decrees that cause prosperity upon us and our nation. May You fill our leaders with wisdom beginning with our president, his deputy and all leaders that whatever they decide to do, it may only come from You. May You judge Your people with righteous and remember mercy loving Savior. May You teach us to love You and our neighbors as ourselves, and to do good always. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us now and forever more. Amen
Further reading: Isaiah 10:1-3, Psalm 72:4
1 Samuel 8:10–19 NIV
“Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. He said, “This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.” But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us.”
INSIGHT
-When the Israelites desired a king like other nations, they refused to listen to the Lord and He gave them Saul with a warning that he would introduce oppressive policies. That he would take in their sons and daughters as servants, and give the best of their land to his attendants. The best of their livestock for his own use. A tenth of their grain levied to the king and his attendants. God always has good plans for us so long as we trust in Him and in His ways for us, but whenever we push for our own ways, He will warn us and allow us to have our own way. God has given us the freedom of choice and therefore it is up to us to choose that which God wants for us so as to get the best for ourselves. Therefore, what is the remedy? To totally seek and follow God’s perfect will for our lives. For it was not God’s will for the people to have a king but they insisted and asked for it and God gave them. At the end of it all Saul had his downfall and mishaps brought by his disobedience to God and God rejected him as king (1 Samuel 15). God still intervened and made a way for an even better king- king David from whom the lineage of Jesus was to come from (1 Samuel 16:12-13). When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn (Proverbs 29:2 ). We are then called to pray for kings and those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness, which is Gods will (1 Timothy2:1–3).
PRAYER
Dear heavenly Father we come before You with thanksgiving and praise. We worship You and exult Your holy name. Thank You Jehovah for the far that You have brought us and the far that You have taken us. We repent all our sins, sins of our nation, all the nations of the world, all the oppression that has occurred in the nations, that You may forgive us and wash us with Your precious blood. We pray for presidents all over the world and all our leaders, that You may bless them and increase them in wisdom. May You teach them to do Your divine will and desist from oppressive policies, that You may give them hearts after Your own heart Lord like king David. We pray for Your peace that surpasses all understanding in all spheres our lives, families, communities, churches, economy and nation. May You prosper us and grant us Your favor before You and before men. May You give us peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness for Your names sake. Our Father who art in heaven; hallowed be Your name; Your Kingdom come; Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptations but deliver us from evil; for thine is the Kingdom the power and the glory; forever and ever. Amen
Further reading: Romans 13:1, Psalms 2:10-11
Daniel 1:1–6 NIV
“In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his god. Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility— young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service. Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.”
INSIGHT
–King Nebuchadnezzar was introduced amidst a crop of corrupt kings of Judah. As the Lord had declared, Nebuchadnezzar removed all the treasures from the temple of the Lord and from the royal palace, and took away all the gold articles that Solomon king of Israel had made from the temple of the Lord. He carried into exile all Jerusalem: all the officers and fighting meant, and all the craftsmen and artisan – a total of ten thousand. Among them were Daniel, Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego, who suffered in Babylon as they pursued their faith in an idol worship culture. They were imprisoned in a furnace of fire for not bowing down to Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel was also thrown into the den of lions for praying to God against king Nebuchadnezzar’s decree. These were some kind of issues that the freedom fighters were faced with as they fought for our independence. They were tortured, detained, and some were killed in the quest of freedom. Sixty years after this, our nation is still struggling with neo-colonialism. The western nations have infested our nation with their culture including the passing of LGBTQ laws. They have also taken over major government projects and forced the leaders impose high taxes with a promise to offer us expensive loans. It is a disastrous situation and the poor are left to suffer most as a majority sleep hungry, due to the high cost of living.
PRAYER
Dear Lord Jesus we worship You and give You praise. This is the day that You have made, we will rejoice and be glad in it. After sixty years of independence, we give You all our praise and thanks. Thank You for the far that You have brought us and for the far that You are taking us. May You deliver us merciful Savior from neo-colonialism and fight for us. This battle belongs to You Jesus may You rescue us. Rescue us from foreign invasion and oppression. Rescue us from slavery and dictatorship. Rescue us from economic degradation and hopelessness. Help us merciful Savior to remain united and to build our nation together as one. May You bless us and heal our land. May You teach us to rely on You fully and to trust You in every area of our lives. May You quicken our revival and bring many to salvation. May You quicken our breakthrough and answer all our prayers Almighty Father. Nothing is too hard for You dear Lord Jesus, may You respond to our hearts desires. Oh God of all creation, bless this our land and nation, may justice be our shield and defender, may we dwell in unity, peace and liberty, may plenty be found within our borders. Amen
Further reading: Daniel 3:13-30, Psalms 133:1-3
Matthew 5:10–12 NIV
“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
INSIGHT
-Many Christians are oppressed and persecuted all over the world. In more than fifty nations including and not limited to Syria, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, China, reading and owning the Bible is illegal. Other nations like Senegal, Congo, children are forced to join militia groups at a young age for the benefit of a few. The Lord reminds us to pray for these children and all persecuted Christians all over the world. It is vital to note that, those who are persecuted for righteousness sake are blessed for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Further, those who are persecuted for Christ’s sake are also blessed for great is their reward in heaven. So we should hold fast to our faith if we are persecuted for the sake of the Lord, and pray for all the persecuted brethren.
SUMMARY
Oppression of the poor and treating them unjustly is a problem that has been addressed by the Lord in various scriptures. It was a prevalent practice in the Biblical times and it is visible in all nations today. It can occur in diverse ways as have evaluated previously. Jeremiah 7:5-7 notes oppression of foreigners, the fatherless, widows and shedding of innocent blood. Isaiah 10:1–4 emphasizes on the discrimination of the rights of the poor, robbing the needy of justice, treating the widows and fatherless unjustly. 1 Samuel 8:10–19 reveals oppression of the poor by king Saul who would make their sons serve with his chariots and horses and run in front of his chariots, plow his ground and reap his harvest, make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. Their daughters would be perfumers, cooks and bakers in his administration. He would take the best of their fields, vineyards, olive groves and give them to his attendants. He would take a tenth of their grain and of their vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. He would also take their male and female servants and the best of their cattle and donkeys for his own use. He would also possess a tenth of their flocks, and thus make the poor his slaves because they refused to follow God’s wisdom and pursed their own personal desires. Rehoboam king of Israel sort for advise from the young men in a critical response to the welfare of Israel after his father Solomon. The people asked, ‘Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter.’ Rehoboam responded saying, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist. My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.’ The people rejected him and killed him, and placed Jeroboam in his place (1 Kings 12:1-21). King Nebuchadnezzar captured Jerusalem and took men belonging to the royal families, nobility and other intelligent men to serve in his palace (Daniel 1:1–6). He instituted punitive policies that would only acknowledge him and worship him, and the Babylonian gods. For defying the kings policies, Shadrack, Meshach and Abednego were thrown into the fiery furnace of fire for failing to worship the golden image, and Jesus saved them (Daniel 3:8-25). Daniel was also thrown into the den of lions for he continued to pray three times a day as his custom despite the new regulation to stop, but the Lord rescued him (Daniel 6:10-23). All leaders are called to lead effectively, with justice and righteousness. King Solomon relied on God’s wisdom and ruled justly (2 Chronicles 1:10). Joshua relied on God’s word and instructions (Joshua 1:1-8). David followed after God’s own heart, totally obeyed Him and always inquire of the Lord (1 Samuel 30:8, 1 Samuel 13:1, Acts 13:22). God has a good plan for each of our lives. He has a divine purpose for our lives and calls us to put our trust in Him always.
PRAYER
Almighty Father, we come before You today, thanking You for Your goodness and mercies that are new every morning. Thank you for the peace You have given us and for everything You have done for us and all You have been to us. You are worthy of all our praise, honor and adoration. We humbly ask You to deliver all the persecuted Christians all over the world and increase their faith in You. May You also deliver all the children who have been forced into illegal gangs that You may save them merciful Savior. May You forgive us all our trespasses and heal our wounds. May You heal our nation and show our leaders the way that they should go. We bless Your name and exalt You. We worship You oh Lord and Father. May Your plan for our lives come to pass in Jesus name. May You bless us and keep us Lord. May You make Your face to shine towards us and be gracious unto us. May You turn Your countenance towards us and give us peace. Amen
Further reading: 2 Corinthians 12:9-10