The Lord executes righteousness
and justice for all who are oppressed. (Psalm 103:6)
This verse really shows God's great love for people. I mean for Him to execute righteousness and justice for every person who is oppressed:
- whether they believe in Him or not
- whether they acknowledge this truth or not
- whether anyone thanks Him or this or not
- whether anyone credits Him for the justice they've been blessed with, or not, is evidence of His amazing love for every one of us!
So
what does Psalm 103:6 exactly mean by the word oppressed? "It means to act
towards, or treat anyone unjustly or violently." In other words it's
wrongfully treating someone in a way that is not fair. We all can think
of times when someone was unjustly harsh with us or treated us in a way that
was totally unfair.
So what exactly makes this promise so amazing?
Every time we are unjustly wronged by another, whether it was accidental or intentional, the LORD will right the wrong, or puts right, the wrong done to us. That is executing righteousness. While at times justice may appear delayed, it is inevitable.
God
will certainly puts things right, and brings about justice for all who are
oppressed. Perhaps this is why God says in Deuteronomy 32:35, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay. In
due time their foot will slip; their day of disaster is near and their doom
rushes upon them." Romans 12:19 instructs us, “Beloved, do not avenge
yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written,
“Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.”
God
Will Give You Justice!
Justice
is what is proper or fitting for the wrong that was done. While justice is not
always seen in our courts, we can be sure that God will put right, and bring
about what is proper or fitting for the wrong that was done--both to us and for
the one who committed the wrong.
Being that God is both righteous and just, He cannot tolerate injustice. In the book of Esther, when the Jewish people were doomed to die from Haman’s wicked scheme, the Lord used a chain of events to totally execute righteousness and justice for His people.
Being that God is both righteous and just, He cannot tolerate injustice. In the book of Esther, when the Jewish people were doomed to die from Haman’s wicked scheme, the Lord used a chain of events to totally execute righteousness and justice for His people.
Because of Haman’s great hatred for Mordecai, Haman secretly built gallows to hang Mordecai. (Esther 5:14) However the king noticed in the records that Mordecai had stopped an assassination plot against the king, but nothing had yet been done to honor Mordecai for his heroic deed. Just as Haman came to the king to his permission to hang Mordecai on the gallows Haman built in his yard, God turned the tables on Haman.
Instead
of getting the king’s permission to murder Mordecai, God used the king mightily
to greatly humble Haman. Haman instead was tasked by the king to greatly honor
Mordecai, parading Mordecai on the king’s horse, while Mordecai wore one of the
kings robes. Even the king’s horse was wearing a crown!
If
that wasn’t humbling enough for Haman, he was also ordered to shout in the
streets, while parading Mordecai, ““Thus shall it be done to the man whom
the king delights to honor!” (Esther 6:11) in the end, God executed
righteousness for all who were oppressed.
Haman
got what he deserved—being hung on the very gallows he built to hang Mordecai.
(Esther 7:9-10)
Mordecai
got promoted to Prime Minister, Haman’s old job.
Esther inherited Haman's house and got to witness the delieverance of the Jewish people from the hands of thier enemies
Because
the king was powerless to cancel the wicked law Haman had put into effect
(Esther 3:5-11), the king allowed Mordecai to create a new law to allow the
Jewish people to avenge themselves against those who would come against them
because of the evil law Haman had made. “the king permitted the Jews who were
in every city to gather together and protect their lives—to destroy, kill, and
annihilate all the forces of any people or province that would assault them, both
little children and women, and to plunder their possessions,” (Esther 8:11)
When the day came for
the enemies of the Jews to attack them, God executed righteousness and justice
for every Jew who was oppressed. “On the day that the enemies of the Jews had
hoped to overpower them, the opposite occurred, in that the Jews themselves
overpowered those who hated them. The Jews gathered together in their cities
throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who sought
their harm. And no one could withstand them, because fear of them fell upon all
people. And all the officials of the provinces, the satraps, the governors, and
all those doing the king’s work, helped the Jews, because the fear of Mordecai
fell upon them. For Mordecai was great in the king’s palace, and his
fame spread throughout all the provinces; for this man Mordecai became
increasingly prominent. Thus the Jews defeated all their enemies with the
stroke of the sword, with slaughter and destruction, and did what they pleased
with those who hated them.” (Esther 1-5)
When we are oppressed or harassed, God is moved to pity, to execute righteousness and justice on our behalf. (Judges 2:18) He is faithful to deliver us from those who oppress us, driving them away from us, and then blessing us by His goodness. (Judges 6:9; Exodus 14:13-14)
God's Justice is Never Lacking
When we are oppressed, God will execute righteousness and justice for us every time without fail. His deliverance in our lives from our oppressors is never hit-and-miss. (1 Samuel 10:18) It is a guarantee--and not just for us, but for everyone who is oppressed. Perhaps God blesses everyone in this way so our unsaved family and friends will be drawn to repentance by God's kindness to them. Because it's His kindness that leads to repentance. (Romans 2:4)
God has such a compassionate heart for all who are oppressed, providing what they need and restoring what had been taken from them. (Psalm 146:7) What a blessing! This is such a great promise to cling to when we are oppressed. On that same note, as we wait for God to execute righteousness and justice for some injustice we have experienced, or continue to experience, Psalm 9:9 promises, “The LORD also will be a refuge for all who are oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. We can rejoice that when we are oppressed the LORD is a refuge for us!
Resting in God's Promise to execute righteousness and justice
Isaiah 53 speaks of the oppression Jesus experienced while He was falsely arrested, accused, and put to death though He was completely innocent.
"He
was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He opened not His mouth;
He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,
And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
So He opened not His mouth." Isaiah 53:7
Yet He opened not His mouth;
He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,
And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
So He opened not His mouth." Isaiah 53:7
When
Jesus was arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin, even though He was
oppressed by the conspiracy to put Him to death, In spite of this and the false
testimonies of others, Jesus did not open His mouth and defend Himself. (Mark
14:55-61) Later, when He was brought before Pilate, Jesus stood silent under
the most unjust circumstances, which made Pilate marvel at Jesus’ example.
(Mark 15:1-5)
Jesus’ silent example before His accusers shows me that when I am oppressed, I don't
need to worry myself with how to defend myself, because whether I stand up for
myself or not, the LORD is executing righteousness and justice on my behalf. He
will fight for me (Exodus 14:14) God will make things right, working my
oppressive circumstances to good. Justice will be served.
Matthew Henry proclaimed, “One way or other, the LORD will plead the cause of those that are injured against their oppressors. It is His honor to humble the proud and help the helpless.”
As Moses told the Israelites when they'd were trapped at the Red Sea while Pharaoh’s army charged towards them, when I am being oppressed I can follow the instructions of Moses that He gave the Israelites during that terrifying time, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Exodus 14:13-14)
Blessed by the Father of Mercies, the God of all comfort
Spurgeon beautifully sums up Psalm 103:6 saying:
"The LORD executes righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed. He does not leave the poor and needy to perish at the hands of their enemies, but interposes on their behalf, for He is the executor of the poor and the executioner of the cruel. When His people were in Egypt he heard their groanings and brought them forth, but he overthrew Pharaoh in the Red Sea.
Man's injustice shall receive retribution at the hand of God. Mercy to his
saints demands vengeance on their persecutors, and He will repay it. No blood
of martyrs shall be shed in vain; no groans of confessors in prison shall be
left without inquisition being made concerning them.
All wrongs shall be
righted, all the oppressed shall be avenged. Justice may at times leave the
courts of man, but it abides upon the tribunal of God. For this every right-minded
person will bless God." From the book, Treasury of David by C.H.Spurgeon
We
are so blessed that we personally know God who is the Father of mercies and the
God of all comfort. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4) who graciously will right every wrong done to us (Genesis 50:20; Romans 8:29) and promises us justice when we've
been oppressed.
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Last updated Monday June 12, 2020
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