4/10/19

Lamentations 3:34-36

To crush underfoot all the prisoners of the earth,
³⁵ to deny a man justice in the presence of the Most High,
³⁶ to subvert a man in his lawsuit, the Lord does not approve.

The author of Lamentations is anonymous.  But it is historically attributed to Jeremiah.  There is no reason to think this is not so, and every reason to think it is.

Lamentations is an acrostic poem.  Chapters 1, 2, 4, 5 are each 22 verses.  This is the number of the Hebrew alphabet.  Chapter 3 is 66 verses.  There is no known reason for this difference.  This writing is a treasure of historic and theological truths.  The verses listed above contributes to that wealth.

In the context, these verses state a very simple truth. “Let no man claim God is the author of his injustice.”  It was common then as now for man to commit some foul injustice and claim God’s will as his authority.  This text denies that is so.

“The poor you have with you always” is a fact.  It even seems at times that poverty is a state of mind that cannot be changed.  If that is so, and there are many who will deny me,  that gives no one the right to either oppress or deny the poor. 

What does this have to say about the Southern border conflict?  Nothing.  It is any nation’s right to control its borders. Laws that do this are necessary and just.