June 14

When they are decreased and humbled by oppression, evil, and sorrow, — Ps 107:39 BSB

Oppression is the exertion of strength over weakness, the triumph of power over helplessness. When Hezekiah was struck with sickness, death loomed over him, and he felt oppressed, crying out, “Lord, I am oppressed; undertake for me” (Isaiah 38:14). In his distress, all his self-reliance melted away. He felt utterly helpless, barely able to muster the strength to cry out for deliverance.

Oppression, then, is a burden added to the weight of poverty. A man may be poor but not necessarily oppressed. But when poverty is combined with oppression, the weight becomes unbearable. God, in His dealings with His people, often strips them bare, making them poor in spirit. Once they are brought low, He allows additional burdens—oppression of heart, spirit, and conscience—to press upon them, driving them to cry out in anguish.

The mark of life is found in these groans, sighs, and cries under the weight of oppression. The dead in sin feel nothing; hypocrites and those at ease in their religion are unaware of this kind of burden. They may experience temptations or fears of judgment, but they don’t feel the weight of oppression like the living soul does. The true child of God cries out, groans in distress, and wrestles with the Lord until He appears and brings deliverance.

This inward struggle is known only to those who have received the Spirit of grace and supplication. It’s the work of the Holy Spirit in the heart, helping our weakness and making intercession for us with groanings too deep for words.