Our human sense of justice tends to simplify people into two categories: good guys and bad guys. From analyzing Wild West movies to powerful men in American history, we have a tendency to see things through a dichotomy that reduces truth down into one group that is pure evil, and another that is pure victim.
But that’s not how the Bible presents people. We are not either sinner or sinless. God’s evaluation of the people of Jerusalem in Jeremiah shows us people are more complex than simply oppressor and oppressed.
“For thus says the Lord of hosts: “Cut down her trees; cast up a siege mound against Jerusalem. This is the city that must be punished; there is nothing but oppression within her.” (Jeremiah 6:6 ESV)
Undoubtedly, the evil of oppression is hated by God. God established authority structures for good. Those blessed with power are also burdened with great responsibility to use it wisely and selflessly. Those in Jerusalem had not only failed to do that, but had begun preying on the powerless for evil gain, and for this sin among others, God was bringing fierce judgment.
But if Jerusalem is being judged for the sin of oppression, shouldn’t we get the oppressed out before the siege comes? It wouldn’t be fair to punish the victims alongside the perpetrators.
Except that the Bible makes it clear that the victims of oppression in Jerusalem were not at all without sin themselves.
“For from the least to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for unjust gain; and from prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely.” (Jeremiah 6:13 ESV)
“Everyone deceives his neighbor, and no one speaks the truth; they have taught their tongue to speak lies; they weary themselves committing iniquity.” (Jeremiah 9:5 ESV)
And so we have an interesting group of people in Jerusalem. We might call then oppressed, greedy, deceivers. Other passages reveal they were also committing the great evil of idolatry, giving worship and thanksgiving to that which was not God, turning away from the one true God and placing their trust and faith elsewhere through gross means like child sacrifice.
No, the oppressed in Jerusalem were certainly not without sin. They too rightly deserved the fierce judgment of God.
This is a hard pill to swallow for us. Especially when we find ourselves on the receiving end of oppression. Our sense of justice rightly sees the wrong done, and wrongly begins to assume we are without sin.
I suspect that we too are often oppressed, greedy, deceiving, idolators. It does us good to remember this reality, and also our deservedness of the same punishment as those who are wronging us.
“as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” (Romans 3:10-12)
Praise be to Christ, who took on the just punishment that oppressor and oppressed alike deserve. Whether we have clarity of our full sinfulness or not, Jesus has taken on the wrath of God on our behalf, that we might stand before the judgment seat in the truly righteous robes of Christ if we place our trust in him alone.
We will not find salvation because we have been wronged. And we will not be counted righteous because we have not committed the sin of oppression. We, like all others, are not good and require the rescue from one who truly is.
As we rightly pursue justice on earth, may we rejoice in the reality that just judgment is not doled out to us. We are given the open invitation to trade our lot with that of perfect Jesus. Trust in Him today, friend. He alone is worthy.
