08/26/2026
Midweek Prayer, A Prayer for the Oppressed
August 26, 2026
There will be no midweek prayer video, but instead I invite you to read this scripture and pray this prayer:
Isaiah 1:16-19
16 Wash and make yourselves clean.
Take your evil deeds out of my sight;
stop doing wrong.
17 Learn to do right; seek justice.
Defend the oppressed.[a]
Take up the cause of the fatherless;
plead the case of the widow.
18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,”
says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool.
19 If you are willing and obedient,
you will eat the good things of the land.
God, we praise you as the Lord who is a stronghold for the oppressed, who does justice for the fatherless and the oppressed, and who works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. We praise you for your love, your care, and your provision. Lord Jesus, though you possess all power, you did not use it to oppress your creation or your people. Instead, you came to serve, to humble yourself, even to the point of death on a cross for our sins. You came to lift up the oppressed. We praise you for your love and your humility, Lord Jesus.
We pray that you would help us, as your people and followers of Jesus, to reflect your character—to do good, to seek justice, and to correct oppression.
So, God, we pray right now for all who are oppressed in different ways, according to your Word, around us and around the world. As we think about this, countless stories come to mind. We pray for those who are enslaved. We pray for those who are being trafficked. God, we ask that you would bring an end to their oppression and their slavery. Bring justice to them.
And God, we pray that you would bring justice to the oppressors—to those who traffic and exploit others. In this fallen, evil, sinful world, we long for an end to oppression. We long for a new heaven and a new earth where there will be no more slavery, no more ruthless treatment of people. Until that day, help us to obey your command—to do good, to seek justice, to correct oppression, and to proclaim the gospel as we do.
Amen.
