King David Does a Double Take
From Dust to Eternity - Psalm 103 - Part 10: Believing in God Brings Personal Benefits and Public Good.
"The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed" (Psalm 103:6)
Some have said faith is a straightjacket, binding our arms to our sides and forcing us to walk a narrow line. They see religion as a prison guard, watching our every move.
Everyone’s favorite 19th-century German philosopher would agree. Frederick Nietzsche once called religion a 'prison house of the spirit,' viewing it as chains that bind rather than wings that lift.
However, the King of Israel, David, who wrote around 1000 BC, had a very different viewpoint. His great Psalm 103 focuses on the benefits that come to someone who believes in God. As we have seen, David has a list of benefits that come with personal faith. So far, we have seen six: forgiveness, healing, redemption, love, satisfaction, and renewal. These are the rightful benefits of a believer. If you do not experience these blessings, please keep reading. And stay the course. Allow God the Holy Spirit to bring these to you one by one. God is faithful, and He will do it.
(Search on #Psalm 103 to read every episode in this series called “From Dust to Eternity.”)
We know King David is talking to himself, so we can picture him standing before a burnished bronze mirror in his private chamber, perhaps at dawn. The morning light streams through the window; he looks at his reflection and counts these blessings aloud, one by one.
But in the next verse, we find that David doesn’t stop with the first six blessings. There is a public dimension to faith. David knows that belief is not just about the believer. It has a broader impact. After all, he wrote in Psalm 33:12, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; And the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.”
Faith Goes Public
David believes blessings come to those who live in the public square when God’s people have faith. So he adds this line to his speech.
The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. Psalm 103:6
As the King of Israel, he was aware of people's challenges. He knew it was hard for a widow to find money to buy daily bread. He knew some greedy merchants put their thumbs on the scales to charge more for an item and cheat the poor. And he knew that some people are unscrupulously taken advantage of. People are victims of oppressors who prey on weak or less advantaged people. These victims years for righteousness and justice, the qualities David just identified.
David knows that God takes notice of these things.
The Hebrew words the King chooses—tzedakah (righteousness) and mishpat (justice)—aren't abstract concepts. They are character qualities of God himself, and they have real-world impact. He says God claims an interest in the structural systems that hurt people in the community and keep the poor poor and the rich rich.
In David’s faith, righteousness and justice are synonyms for God. Righteousness and justice are what God’s love looks like in public. It shows us that God sees. That God cares. And that God acts.
This is what’s behind Jesus great teaching in the Sermon on the Mount. Namely, that those who are persecuted because of righteousness will experience the presence of God.
The twin themes of righteousness and justice run throughout Scripture. In Exodus, we see God hearing the cries of the oppressed Israelites and acting to deliver them. The prophets consistently call for justice for the poor and marginalized. Jesus, in His first public sermon, declares that He has come to "proclaim good news to the poor... to set the oppressed free" (Luke 4:18).
If we look at the ministry of Jesus and the impact of His disciples on the world, it becomes crystal clear. Faith changes lives, and changed lives change the world.
Faith Changes More than the Human Heart
When I was the pastor of a church, our missions efforts were strong. We sent people, youth and adults, to some of the poorest places in South America. I was so blessed to travel with these teams of people. I saw the impact of faith on people personally. And over time, I saw the impact of faith on the community they were living in.
Our host once told us we could tell which homes were occupied by Christians because of the condition of their front patio. He said Christians had more money to beautify their porches, plant flowers, and hang curtains in the front windows of the house. It wasn’t that they had better jobs. Maybe they did. But the pastor’s point was that Christian families didn’t foolishly spend their money gambling or bouts of drinking. He said their kids behaved better at school because the parents took an active interest in their education. He was clear: Christianity had impacted the entire neighborhood, the crime rate, the justice system, and even the litter and refuse.
In other words, what David said in front of his mirror would not have surprised this pastor. There is a widening effect when belief came to the human heart. Things change from the inside out. We can call it what it is: a halo effect. When a life is dedicated to God, the lifestyle changes.
As bearers of God's image, believers are called to reflect His character, and when they do reflect his image, including His passion for justice and righteousness, things change. If Christians do not change their lifestyle to match the life change that comes with believing, there is a problem. The impact of disobedience in this area has long-lasting effects. Brennan Manning says it succinctly:
"The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.
We need to remind ourselves of this fact. If we believe in God, we should care about what He cares about. That’s how we reflect His image.
This is hard news for some. This is fueling the resistance to faith and religion in many people. They don’t want to change. They know that believing in God is demanding. And they know that believing in God is difficult. Anytime I think of the Christian faith for what it is—difficult—I think of Chesterton’s famous quip that "Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and not tried."
David wants us to try it. Try being a Christian in the complete sense of the word, so it is not just me and my comfort and joy but that faith makes me strive for righteousness in all my dealings and justice in all my decisions.
Look in the Mirror
It's time for another "man in the mirror" moment.
Stand in front of your mirror and look yourself in the eye. Say these words:
[Your Name], listen carefully. The God you serve is not indifferent to injustice. He works righteousness and justice for the oppressed. This means two things: If you're facing oppression or injustice, God sees you. He's working on your behalf. Hold onto hope. Second, as God's representative, you're called to care about these issues, too. Where do you see oppression around you? How can you work for righteousness and justice? Don't turn a blind eye. Don't be passive. Engage. Act. Reflect God's heart for the oppressed. Bless the Lord, O my soul, who works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed!
Biblical truth should change how we view our world and our role in it. When we understand that God actively works for justice, we should be motivated to do the same. We should be more aware of injustice around us and more willing to take action against it.
Work it out
Here's a practical exercise for today: Research an issue of injustice or oppression in your community or the wider world. It could be poverty, racial discrimination, human trafficking, or any other form of systemic injustice. Learn about its causes and effects. Then, identify one concrete action you can take to address this issue. It might be volunteering, donating, advocating, or simply educating others. Take that action. See it as participation in God's work of righteousness and justice.
As we continue our exploration of Psalm 103, we'll see how this aspect of God's character - His commitment to righteousness and justice - informs all of His actions. But for now, let's sit with this powerful truth: our God is actively working to right wrongs and defend the oppressed.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, who works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed! Psalm 103:6
The Rev. David Roseberry, an ordained Anglican priest with over 40 years of pastoral experience, offers leadership services to pastors, churches, and Christian writers. He is an accomplished author whose books are available on Amazon. Rev. Roseberry is the Executive Director of LeaderWorks, where his work and resources can be found.