121 Days of Prayer

The Lord Works Vindication and Justice for All Who are Oppressed

The purposes of this prayer are: Justice, Forgiveness and Mercy.

Righteous Lord, after expressing his boundless gratitude in the first verses of this psalm for all your acts of mercy and healing, the psalmist then greatly praised you for your righteousness and justice, writing, “The Lord works vindication and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always accuse, nor will he keep his anger forever.” Psalm 103:6–9 (NRSV). The author of the book of James wrote similarly of your justice and mercy: “Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors! As an example of suffering and patience, beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Indeed we call blessed those who showed endurance. You have heard of the endurance of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.” James 5:9–11 (NRSV). Lord, Christians have seen the mercy and the compassion of Jesus in his willingness to die for our sins on a cross. May his great act of salvation be ever foremost in our minds, we pray. Amen.