No More Oppression!

In Isaiah 49, the Lord spoke through Isaiah to his people, concerning the restoration of Zion. This was after Isreal’s captivity in Babylon, because of the disobedience and hardness of heart of the people. Their captivity was prophesied of and the people experienced its fulfilment. Yet, in their captivity, God was rendering justice, restoration and judgement for their oppressors. In verse 14, Zion felt forgotten and forsaken by God. In the next verse, Isaiah negates this by asking, “Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you” ‭‭(Isaiah‬ ‭49‬:‭15). He went on to say that God had inscribed his people in the palm of his hands and the walls of Zion are always on the mind of God. 

God then promised that their children would return and those who plundered them would go away from them. Those who return would become like an ornament to Jerusalem and the land would again become inhabited. Zion would be amazed at the number of her children who return, since so many of her children were taken away in captivity. At the time of Isreal’s restoration, God would command the nations to give up her children. Kings were commanded to care for the children of God and Queens became their nurses. They would also bow down before the children of God and humbly show their respect. Then we will know that He is God and no one who waits for His help will be disappointed. Isaiah then asked, “Can the spoils of war be taken from the mighty man, Or the captives of a tyrant be rescued” ‭‭(Isaiah‬ ‭49‬:‭24‬)?

The resounding response from God is that, even those held captive by the mighty shall be taken and the tyrant’s spoils of war will be rescued. Moreover, God will fight against those who fight with us and he will save our children. God will cause anyone who oppresses his children to feed on their own flesh, or to destroy themselves through war and destruction. They will also be drunk with blood as when someone is drunk with wine. Then all nations will know with full assurance that God is our saviour and redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob. God is a jealous God. He is loving, merciful, caring and kind, but he can also be a great and terrible God (Nehemiah 1:5). He is a God of justice and judgement and he hates oppression and wrong doing. There are seasons when God allows affliction, to refine and purify his children. 

Sometimes affliction can also arise from disobedience or ignorance. Nevertheless, God is faithful and just to forgive us of all our sins and the cleanse is from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Once we confess our sins to God, then we are in right standing and we can come before him with boldness. Once we cry out to God, he will rouse himself and defend us, he will rise up to plead our cause (Psalm 35:23). Our God is a great defender, he is a mighty man of war and he executes judgement for his children. We will continue to lift up our eyes unto the hills from where our help comes from. God will plead our cause against infirmity, against poverty and inequality, against affliction and oppression. The wicked will be brought to shame and destruction for pursuing us. “I have done justice and righteousness; Do not leave me to my oppressors. Be surety for Your servant for good; Do not let the proud oppress me” (Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭121‬-‭122‬).

A.P.-Y. – Anneta Pinto-Young