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God's Justice for the Oppressed and Enslaved in Scripture

God's justice is a fundamental attribute of His nature, signifying His inherent righteousness in all His actions and His moral governance [6]. This divine justice is consistently depicted in Scripture as actively engaged on behalf of the oppressed and enslaved. The Psalmist declares, "The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed" [1]. Similarly, another Psalm states, "He executes justice for the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free" [2].

This commitment to justice for the vulnerable is not merely an optional aspect of God's will but an unchangeable principle of His being [6]. God's kingship is inherently just and righteous, and He is exalted through His justice, which includes the condemnation of oppressors [12]. The Bible frequently portrays God as a refuge and strength for the afflicted, comforting, preserving, and delivering them [4]. He is the author and giver of consolation in affliction [7].

The concept of God's justice extends to His active intervention in human affairs. For instance, John Gill interprets Psalm 103:6 as referring not only to the Israelites oppressed by the Egyptians, for whom God brought judgment upon Pharaoh, but also to all oppressed individuals, such as the poor, the widow, and the fatherless [10]. God judges their cause and acts on their behalf [10]. In Psalm 146:7, Gill further explains that Christ, as Mediator, executes judgment for His oppressed people, delivering them from sin, Satan, and worldly oppression [9]. He saves the children of the needy from their sins, the law's curses, and their enemies, and "breaks in pieces the oppressor," including Satan [13].

God's judgments are seen as originating from Him [5]. Even when the Jewish people disregarded God's justice manifested among them, the prophet Zephaniah reminds them that "The just Lord is in the midst thereof," implying His presence for taking vengeance on injustice [14]. The divine attribute of justice is also reconciled with His mercy through the atonement of Christ, where God's justice required a sacrifice, and His mercy provided it, allowing Him to be both just and the justifier of those who believe [3, 11]. God saves His people from external evils, and the pious among them [8].

Sources

  1. King James Version “[KJV] Psalms 103:6 — The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.”
  2. Psalms “Psalms 146:7 (BSB) — He executes justice for the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free,”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Atonement, The — Explained -- Ro 5:8-11; 2Co 5:18,19; Ga 1:4; 1Jo 2:2; 4:10. Foreordained -- Ro 3:25; 1Pe 1:11,20; Re 13:8. Foretold -- Isa 53:4-6,8-12; Da 9:24-27; Zec 13:1,7; Joh 11:50,51. Effected by Christ alone -- Joh 1:29,36; Ac 4:10,12; 1Th 1:10; 1Ti 2:5,6; Heb 2:9; 1Pe 2:24. Was voluntary -- Ps 40:6-8; Heb 10:5-9; Joh 10:11,15,17,18. Exhibits the Grace and mercy of God. -- Ro 8:32; Eph 2:4,5,7; 1Ti 2:4; Heb 2:9. Love of God. -- Ro 5:8; 1Jo 4:9,10. Love of Christ. -- Joh 15:13; Ga 2:20; Eph 5:2,25; Re 1:5. Reconciles the justice and mercy of God -- Isa 45:21; ”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Afflicted Saints — God is with -- Ps 46:5,7; Isa 43:2. God is a refuge and strength to -- Ps 27:5,6; Isa 25:4; Jer 16:19; Na 1:7. God comforts -- Isa 49:13; Jer 31:13; Mt 5:4; 2Co 1:4,5; 7:6. God preserves -- Ps 34:20. God delivers -- Ps 34:4,19; Pr 12:13; Jer 39:17,18. Christ is with -- Joh 14:18. Christ supports -- 2Ti 4:17; Heb 2:18. Christ comforts -- Isa 61:2; Mt 11:28-30; Lu 7:13; Joh 14:1; 16:33. Christ preserves -- Isa 63:9; Lu 21:18. Christ delivers -- Re 3:10. Should praise God -- Ps 13:5,6; 56:8-10; 57:6,7; 71:20-23. Should imitate Christ -- Heb 12:1-3; 1P”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Judgments — Are from God -- De 32:39; Job 12:23; Am 3:6; Mic 6:9. Different kinds of Blotting out the name. -- De 29:20. Abandonment by God. -- Ho 4:17. Cursing men's blessings. -- Mal 2:2. Pestilence. -- De 28:21,22; Am 4:10. Enemies. -- 2Sa 24:13. Famine. -- De 28:38-40; Am 4:7-9. Famine of hearing the word. -- Am 8:11. The sword. -- Ex 22:24; Jer 19:7. Captivity. -- De 28:41; Eze 39:23. Continued sorrows. -- Ps 32:10; 78:32,33; Eze 24:23. Desolation. -- Eze 33:29; Joe 3:19. Destruction. -- Job 31:3; Ps 34:16; Pr 2:22; Isa 11:4. Inflicted upon Nations. -- Ge 15:14;”
  6. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Justice of God — That perfection of his nature whereby he is infinitely righteous in himself and in all he does, the righteousness of the divine nature exercised in his moral government. At first God imposes righteous laws on his creatures and executes them righteously. Justice is not an optional product of his will, but an unchangeable principle of his very nature. His legislative justice is his requiring of his rational creatures conformity in all respects to the moral law. His rectoral or distributive justice is his dealing with his accountable creatures according”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Affliction, Consolation Under — God is the author and Giver of -- Ps 23:4; Ro 15:5; 2Co 1:3; 7:6; Col 1:11; 2Th 2:16,17. Christ is the Author and Giver of -- Isa 61:2; Joh 14:18; 2Co 1:5. The Holy Spirit is the Author and Giver of -- Joh 14:16,17; 15:26; 16:7; Ac 9:31. Promised -- Isa 51:3,12; 66:13; Eze 14:22,23; Ho 2:14; Zec 1:17. Through the Holy Scriptures -- Ps 119:50,76; Ro 15:4. By ministers of the gospel -- Isa 40:1,2; 1Co 14:3; 2Co 1:4,6. Is abundant -- Ps 71:21; Isa 66:11. Is strong -- Heb 6:18. Is everlasting -- 2Th 2:16. Is a cause of praise -- Isa 12:1; ”
  8. Brown-Driver-Briggs “[BDB H3467] yasha (part 4/5) — of God, who saves his people from external evils Deut 20:4; Josh 22:22; Judg 3:9; 6:36-37, 7:7; 10:13; 1Sam 14:23, 39; 2Kin 14:27; 19:34 = Isa 37:35; 25:9; 33:22; 35:4; 43:12; 49:25; 63:9; Jer 31:7; Ezek 34:22; Hosea 1:7 (twice in verse); Hab 1:2; Zeph 3:17, 19; Zech 8:7, 13; 9:16; 10:6; 12:7; Psa 28:9; 69:36; 106:8; 118:25; 2Chr 20:9; or the pious among them Isa 38:20; Jer 2:27; 17:14; Psa 3:8; 6:5; 7:2; 31:17; 54:3; 55:17; 57:4; 69:2; 71:2; 71:3; 106:47 = 1Chr 16:35; Psa 109:26; 119:94; 119:146; 138:7; Prov 20:22; and especially the king Psa 20:7; Psalm 20:10; ”
  9. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 146:7: Which executeth judgment for the oppressed,.... All judgment being committed to Christ as Mediator, he executes it on the behalf of his oppressed ones, and breaks in pieces their oppressors; being oppressed with sin, and lying under the power of it, he condemned it in his flesh, wrought out a righteousness to justify from it, and redeemed them from all their iniquities; being oppressed by Satan, and led captive by him, he took them as a prey from the mighty, and led captivity captive; and, when oppressed by the world, he is on their side and takes their part, and tho”
  10. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 103:6: The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed. Not only for the Israelites oppressed by the Egyptians, though the psalmist might have them in his view, by what follows; for whom the Lord did justice, by delivering them out of the hands of their oppressors, and by punishing Pharaoh and his people, and bringing down judgments upon them, both in Egypt and at the Red sea; but for all other oppressed ones in common, the poor, the widow, and the fatherless, who are often oppressed by the rich and mighty; the Lord judges their cause, and does them”
  11. Romans (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Romans 3:26: To declare, I say, at this time - To manifest now, by the dispensation of the Gospel, his righteousness, his infinite mercy; and to manifest it in such a way, that he might still appear to be the just God, and yet the justifier, the pardoner, of him who believeth in Jesus. Here we learn that God designed to give the most evident displays both of his justice and mercy. Of his justice, in requiring a sacrifice, and absolutely refusing to give salvation to a lost world in any other way; and of his mercy, in providing The sacrifice which his justice required. Thus, beca”
  12. Isaiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Isaiah 5:16: 5:16 God’s kingship is by definition just and righteous, and he will be exalted by his justice. At his exaltation, oppressors will be condemned (see 1:21-23).”
  13. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 72:4: He shall judge the poor of the people,.... Of the people of God, whether among Jews or Gentiles; See Gill on Psa 72:2; he shall save the children of the needy; whose parents being needy, they are so too, in a spiritual sense, and in distressed circumstances. Such Christ saves from their sins; from the curses and condemnation of the law: from, wrath to come, and out of the hands of all their enemies; and shall break in pieces the oppressor; the tyrant Satan, the god of this world; that has usurped a power over it; who works in the children of disobedience, and lead”
  14. Zephaniah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Zephaniah 3:5: The Jews regard not God's justice manifested in the midst of them, nor His judgments on the guilty nations around. The just Lord--Why then are ye so unjust? is in the midst thereof--He retorts on them their own boast, "Is not the Lord among us" (Mic 3:11)? True He is, but it is for another end from what ye think [CALVIN]; namely, to lead you by the example of His righteousness to be righteous. Lev 19:2, "Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy" [MAURER]. But CALVIN, "That ye may feel His hand to be the nearer for taking vengeance for yo”
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