<\/p>
The Bible has a lot to say about abuse and oppression of the poor. \u00a0My question here is, Who are the oppressors? <\/p>\n
Scripture\u2019s answer is non-discriminatory. \u00a0All classes and categories of people, as well as institutions and nations, oppress the poor, the helpless, the powerless and defenseless. <\/p>\n
Isaiah, for instance, castigates the rulers of Judah as \u201crulers of Sodom\u201d who have failed to seek justice, defend the orphan, plead for the widow (Isaiah 1:10, 17). \u00a0They \u201clove bribes\u201d and \u201cchase after rewards\u201d as their love of riches turns them from right rule. \u00a0The first oppression spoken of in the Bible is the Egyptian oppression of Israel (Genesis 15:13; Exodus 3:9), the oppression of one relatively poor and powerless nation (Israel) by a wealthy and powerful people (Egypt). \u00a0Throughout the book of Judges, Israel is again and again oppressed by invading and conquering armies (Judges 2:18; 4:3; 6:9; 10:12). \u00a0Again and again, Yahweh gives Israel into the hands of other nations, and then stretches out His own hand to deliver them when they cry to Him (cf. 2 Kings 13:4, 22; Nehemiah 9:27; Isaiah 14:1-4). \u00a0Ecclesiastes 5:8 appears to be talking about official oppression that takes the form of denying justice and rights to the weak. \u00a0Though Scripture acknowledges that rulers can themselves be oppressors, some passages describe an ideal ruler who delivers the poor and oppressed from the hands of the oppressor (Psalm 72:4, 14; Isaiah 9:4). <\/p>\n
The Bible also frequently prohibits and condemns \u201cprivate\u201d oppression by employers, neighbors,\u00a0\u00a0the rich and powerful. <\/p>\n
Exodus 22:21 warns Israelites not to oppress strangers, reminding them that they were strangers in Egypt (cf. Exodus 23:9). \u00a0Leviticus 19:13 reiterates the general warning about oppressing neighbors, and adds specifically that employers should not abuse their hired men: \u201cThe wages of a hired man are not to remain with you all night until the morning\u201d (cf. Deuteronomy 24:14). \u00a0Proverbs 14:31 warns that the oppressor of the poor is attacking the Creator; the proverb envisions private oppression, since it goes on to commend, by contrast, the one who is generous toward the needy. \u00a0So too Proverbs 22:16 warns that one who enriches himself by abusing the poor will eventually come to poverty himself. \u00a0 Jeremiah\u2019s temple sermon may specifically address the abuses of the religious leaders, the fact that (as Jesus later says) they devour widows\u2019 houses, but the sermon has wider application: All of Judah has turned the temple into a \u201cden of brigands\u201d because they oppress the poor and then retreat to the temple for safety (Jeremiah 7:6; cf. 22:3, 17). \u00a0Similarly, in one breath, Ezekiel attacks rulers who \u201ctake bribes to shed blood\u201d and those who \u201ctake interest and profits\u201d and \u201cinjure your neighbors for gain by oppression\u201d (22:12). <\/p>\n
The Bible warns the rich who oppress the poor. \u00a0James is perhaps the most explicit: \u201cIs it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court\u201d (James 2:6). \u00a0But the Bible also recognizes that the poor sometimes oppress the poorer. \u00a0Proverbs 28:3 compares the \u201cpoor man who oppresses the lowly\u201d to \u201ca driving rain which leaves no food.\u201d <\/p>\n
Who abuses the poor? \u00a0As Scripture sees things, it could be anyone, and Christians are called to oppose oppression whether it is carried out by civil rulers, by religious leaders, by large corporations or small businesses, by neighbors, by family members, by the weak on the weaker. <\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Bible has a lot to say about abuse and oppression of the poor. \u00a0My question here is, Who are the oppressors? Scripture\u2019s answer is non-discriminatory. \u00a0All classes and categories of people, as well as institutions and nations, oppress the poor, the helpless, the powerless and defenseless. Isaiah, for instance, castigates the rulers of Judah […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3021,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5955","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics"],"yoast_head":"\n