Thomas Aquinas Commentary Jeremiah 15:19-21

"Therefore thus saith Jehovah, If thou return, then will I bring thee again, that thou mayest stand before me; and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: they shall return unto thee, but thou shalt not return unto them. And I will make thee unto this people a fortified brazen wall; and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee, saith Jehovah. And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible." — Jeremiah 15:19-21 (ASV)

Here the response of the Lord who heard him is set down.

1. He promises advancement in beatitude regarding uprightness of life: if you will turn—others to me from their sins—I will turn you from your difficulties; you will stand, by your uprightness of life or preeminence in contemplation. As the Lord lives, in whose sight I stand (1 Kings 17:1). He who makes the sinner to turn from the error of his way will free his soul from death, and will cover a multitude of sins (James 5:20). And with regard to the authority of his prediction: and if you will separate what is precious from what is vile, by distinguishing good works from bad, you will be my mouth, because I will speak through you. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you (Matthew 10:20).
2. With regard to deliverance from evil:
   • From the evils of guilt: they will turn to you. It is as though he were saying, “They will imitate you, and not you them.” I urge you, be imitators of me, as I am of Christ (1 Corinthians 4:16).
   • From the evils of punishment:
     1. He promises fortitude: and I will make you as a strong brazen wall before this people. Compare to the passage above: I have surely set you today as a fortified city, and as an iron pillar, and as a brazen wall over all the land, for the kings of Judah and her princes, for her priests and for the people of the land. And they will wage war against you, but will not prevail, for I am with you says the Lord (Jeremiah 1:18–19).
     2. He promises protection: and they will wage war. For if I should walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will not fear evil things, because you are with me (Psalms 23:4).
     3. He promises liberation: and I will deliver you. Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name (Isaiah 43:1).

It should be noted that the saints glory (Jeremiah 15:17) in several things:

• In the good of virtue.
• In the suffering of tribulations: not only this, but we also glory in tribulations (Romans 5:3).
• In fellowship with their neighbors: I have much confidence in you, and much reason to glory in you (2 Corinthians 7:4).
• In the purity of their conscience: for our glory is this, the witness of our conscience (2 Corinthians 1:12).
• In God. This includes glorying in:
  • The divine love shown by the passion: may I never glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ (Galatians 6:14).
  • Divine knowledge: let him who glories, glory in this, that he understands, and knows me (Jeremiah 9:24).
  • Divine imitation: it is a great glory to follow the Lord; for long life will be received from him .