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Scriptural Support for Contacting Authorities in Abuse Cases

The Bible provides a framework for understanding and responding to oppression and distress, often highlighting prayer and seeking divine intervention, while also implying the need for practical action in the face of injustice. The Psalms frequently depict individuals and communities crying out to God for help and deliverance from affliction [1, 2, 3, 6]. For instance, Psalm 4:1 states, "Answer me when I call, God of my righteousness. Give me relief from my distress. Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer" [3]. Similarly, Psalm 69:13 expresses a plea: "But as for me, my prayer is to you, Yahweh, in an acceptable time. God, in the abundance of your loving kindness, answer me in the truth of your salvation" [2]. Such passages demonstrate a foundational trust that God hears and responds to the prayers of the afflicted [11, 17].

Biblical authors often call for God's attention during crises, as seen in Psalms 35:23, 44:23, 73:20, and 80:2, and even in Mark 4:38, illustrating a pattern of seeking divine intervention when faced with overwhelming circumstances [11]. The "call/answer motif" in Scripture frequently signifies a believer's trust in God as a refuge and guide, indicating intimate communion between the individual and God [17]. This is further supported by passages that encourage prayer under affliction, such as James 5:13, and prayers for God to consider one's trouble, for divine presence and support, and for deliverance [4].

While the primary response to affliction in scripture is often prayer and reliance on God, the Bible also addresses the duty of believers toward the afflicted. This duty includes praying for them, sympathizing with them, pitying them, bearing them in mind, visiting them, comforting them, relieving them, and protecting them [5]. Specifically, the instruction to "protect them" (Psalm 82:3; Proverbs 22:22; 31:5) suggests a responsibility to intervene and safeguard those who are vulnerable [5]. This implies that addressing abuse may involve more than just spiritual solace, extending to tangible actions that ensure safety and justice.

The concept of oppression is acknowledged as rampant in society, occurring in various spheres such as family, religion, the workplace, government, and among foreign powers [13]. In such contexts, the godly are depicted as praying for rescue when evil becomes pervasive [12]. The Bible also speaks to the long-suffering of God, which should lead to repentance, and warns against despising or abusing this long-suffering [10]. This divine characteristic underscores the expectation of justice and accountability for wrongdoing.

Believers are encouraged to approach God's "throne of grace" with confidence to "obtain mercy" and "receive grace to help in time of need" [15]. This access to God is described as being "by Christ" and "by the Holy Spirit," obtained through faith [8]. This theological understanding provides a basis for seeking divine assistance in all forms of distress, including situations of abuse. The call for help is not merely a passive waiting but an active engagement with God, trusting in His character as one who delivers and preserves the afflicted [7]. Even when facing despair, saints are enabled to overcome through trust in God [9]. The request for prayer for oneself and others, as seen in Hebrews 13:18-19, further emphasizes the communal aspect of seeking divine aid and support in difficult situations [14, 16].

Sources

  1. Psalms “Psalms 44:26 (BSB) — Rise up; be our help! Redeem us on account of Your loving devotion.”
  2. Psalms “But as for me, my prayer is to you, Yahweh, in an acceptable time. God, in the abundance of your loving kindness, answer me in the truth of your salvation. -- Psalms 69:13”
  3. Psalms “Answer me when I call, God of my righteousness. Give me relief from my distress. Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer. -- Psalms 4:1”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Affliction, Prayer Under — Exhortation to -- Jas 5:13. That God would consider our trouble -- 2Ki 19:16; Ne 9:32; Ps 9:13; La 5:1. For the presence and support of God -- Ps 10:1; 102:2. That the Holy Spirit may not be withdrawn -- Ps 51:11. For divine comfort -- Ps 4:6; 119:76. For mitigation of troubles -- Ps 39:12,13. For deliverance -- Ps 25:17,22; 39:10; Isa 64:9-12; Jer 17:14. For pardon and deliverance from sin -- Ps 39:8; 51:1; 79:8. That we may be turned to God -- Ps 80:7; 85:4-6; Jer 31:18. For divine teaching and direction -- Job 34:32; Ps 27:11; 143:10. Fo”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Afflicted, Duty Toward The — To pray for them -- Ac 12:5; Php 1:16,19; Jas 5:14-16. To sympathise with them -- Ro 12:15; Ga 6:2. To pity them -- Job 6:14. To bear them in mind -- Heb 13:3. To visit them -- Jas 1:27. To comfort them -- Job 16:5; 29:25; 2Co 1:4; 1Th 4:18. To relieve them -- Job 31:19,20; Isa 58:10; Php 4:14; 1Ti 5:10. To protect them -- Ps 82:3; Pr 22:22; 31:5.”
  6. Psalms “I have called to you. Save me! I will obey your statutes. -- Psalms 119:146”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Afflicted Saints — God is with -- Ps 46:5,7; Isa 43:2. God is a refuge and strength to -- Ps 27:5,6; Isa 25:4; Jer 16:19; Na 1:7. God comforts -- Isa 49:13; Jer 31:13; Mt 5:4; 2Co 1:4,5; 7:6. God preserves -- Ps 34:20. God delivers -- Ps 34:4,19; Pr 12:13; Jer 39:17,18. Christ is with -- Joh 14:18. Christ supports -- 2Ti 4:17; Heb 2:18. Christ comforts -- Isa 61:2; Mt 11:28-30; Lu 7:13; Joh 14:1; 16:33. Christ preserves -- Isa 63:9; Lu 21:18. Christ delivers -- Re 3:10. Should praise God -- Ps 13:5,6; 56:8-10; 57:6,7; 71:20-23. Should imitate Christ -- Heb 12:1-3; 1P”
  8. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Access to God — Is of God -- Ps 65:4. Is by Christ -- Joh 10:7, 9; 14:6; Ro 5:2; Eph 2:13; 3:12; Heb 7:9, 25; 10:19; 1Pe 3:18. Is by the Holy Spirit -- Eph 2:18. Obtained through faith -- Ac 14:27; Ro 5:2; Eph 3:12; Heb 11:6. Follows upon reconciliation to God -- Col 1:21,22. In Prayer -- See Prayer. De 4:7; Mt 6:6; 1Pe 1:17. In his temple -- Ps 15:1; 27:4; 43:3; 65:4. To obtain mercy and grace -- Heb 4:16. A privilege of saints -- De 4:7; Ps 15:1; 23:6; 24:3,4. Saints have, with confidence -- Eph 3:12; Heb 4:16; 10:19,20. Vouchsafed to repenting sinners -- See Repen”
  9. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Despair — Produced in the wicked by divine judgments -- De 28:34,67; Re 9:6; 16:10. Leads to Continuing in sin. -- Jer 2:25; 18:12. Blasphemy. -- Isa 8:21; Re 16:10,11. Shall seize upon the wicked at the appearing of Christ -- Re 6:16. Saints sometimes tempted to -- Job 7:6; La 3:18. Saints enabled to overcome -- 2Co 4:8,9. Trust in God, a preservative against -- Ps 42:5,11. Exemplified Cain. -- Ge 4:13,14. Ahithophel. -- 2Sa 17:23. Judas. -- Mt 27:5.”
  10. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Long-Suffering of God, The — Is part of his character -- Ex 34:6; Nu 14:18; Ps 86:15. Salvation, the object of -- 2Pe 3:15. Through Christ's intercession -- Lu 13:8. Should lead to repentance -- Ro 2:4; 2Pe 3:9. An encouragement to repent -- Joe 2:13. Exhibited in forgiving sins -- Ro 3:25. Exercised toward His people. -- Isa 30:18; Eze 20:17. The wicked. -- Ro 9:22; 1Pe 3:20. Plead in prayer -- Jer 15:15. Limits set to -- Ge 6:3; Jer 44:22. The wicked Abuse. -- Ec 8:11; Mt 24:48,49. Despise. -- Ro 2:4. Punished for despising. -- Ne 9:30; Mt 24:48-51; Ro 2:5. Illustr”
  11. Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 44:23: 44:23-26 In the end, God’s people can turn to the Lord and trust him for rescue. Their petition for God to remedy their situation is as strong as their lament about God’s rejection. 44:23 Wake up: Biblical authors often call for God’s attention in a crisis (35:23; 44:23; 73:20; 80:2; Mark 4:38).”
  12. Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 12:1: Ps 12 This community lament seeks the Lord’s help against the prevalence of evil. Because of the Lord’s answer, the godly can face the future knowing that God protects them. 12:1-4 Evil becomes so pervasive that the godly pray for rescue (Isa 57:1; Mic 7:2; cp. Pss 1:6; 37:20; 58:7; 104:35).”
  13. Ecclesiastes (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ecclesiastes 4:1: 4:1 all the oppression: Abuse is rampant at many levels in society—in family, religion, the workplace, government, and foreign powers.”
  14. Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 13:18: 13:18-19 Pray for us: The author asks for prayer for himself using the “authorial plural” (see also 5:11; 6:9). • our conscience is clear: Cp. 2 Cor 1:11-12; 4:2.”
  15. Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 4:16: come--rather as Greek, "approach," "draw near." boldly--Greek, "with confidence," or "freedom of speech" (Eph 6:19). the throne of grace--God's throne is become to us a throne of grace through the mediation of our High Priest at God's right hand (Heb 8:1; Heb 12:2). Pleading our High Priest Jesus' meritorious death, we shall always find God on a throne of grace. Contrast Job's complaint (Job 23:3-8) and Elihu's " IF," &c. (Job 33:23-28). obtain--rather, "receive." mercy--"Compassion," by its derivation (literally, fellow feeling from community”
  16. Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 13:18: Pray for us--Paul usually requests the Church's intercessions for him in closing his Epistles, just as he begins with assuring them of his having them at heart in his prayers (but in this Epistle not till Heb 13:20-21), Rom 15:30. "Us," includes both himself and his companions; he passes to himself alone, Heb 13:19. we trust we have a good conscience--in spite of your former jealousies, and the charges of my Jewish enemies at Jerusalem, which have been the occasion of my imprisonment at Rome. In refutation of the Jews' aspersions, he asserts in the”
  17. Habakkuk (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Habakkuk 1:2: 1:2-4 To Habakkuk, God seemed indifferent to the evil permeating society in Judah (1:3-4) and unresponsive to his complaints about it (1:2). 1:2 call for help? . . . do not listen! The call/answer motif in Scripture often demonstrates the speaker’s trust in God as a refuge or guide (see Ps 102:1-2) and indicates intimate communion between the believer and God (Ps 145:18; Isa 65:24).”
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