Thomas Aquinas Commentary Jeremiah 32:16-19

"Now after I had delivered the deed of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, I prayed unto Jehovah, saying, Ah Lord Jehovah! behold, thou hast made the heavens and the earth by thy great power and by thine outstretched arm; there is nothing too hard for thee, who showest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them; the great, the mighty God, Jehovah of hosts is his name; great in counsel, and mighty in work; whose eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men, to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:" — Jeremiah 32:16-19 (ASV)

1. This section confirms the previous explanation. Because the people did not believe the prophet's words, he sought a divine revelation to resolve their doubt. The passage is divided into two parts:

1. The prophet’s prayer is given first.
2. The Lord’s response is given second, at and the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah (Jeremiah 32:26).

Concerning the first part, the prayer, there are three points:

1. He commends God’s justice.
2. He describes the punishment that was justly inflicted, beginning at you who made signs (Jeremiah 32:20).
3. He questions the reason for the command he was given, starting at and you say to me, O Lord God (Jeremiah 32:25).

Now, when justice is present, it makes a person will what is just. For this reason, two other factors are necessary for its execution: knowledge and ability. Therefore, to demonstrate the perfect execution of justice, the prophet shows God's perfection in both power and knowledge.

He first addresses God's power, speaking of the creation of all things: behold, you made. This refers to what was said previously: I made the earth, and men, and the beasts, which are upon the face of the earth, in my great strength and with my outstretched arm, and I gave it to the one who was pleasing in my eyes (Jeremiah 27:5). He then commends the perfection of God's power, saying, nor shall any word be difficult for you, by which you made such great things. As it is written, No word shall be impossible with God (Luke 1:31).

To justice, he adds its execution, which is tempered with mercy: who shows mercy. This mercy involves giving a reward to the good to thousands—that is, to a thousand generations. He also repays the iniquity of the fathers into the bosoms of their sons, for at least one generation, so that the mercy shown might be preeminent. As it is written, I am the Lord your God, mighty, jealous, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those that hate me (Exodus 20:5).

He then breaks forth into a commendation of God's power, from which His just mercy flows. He is O most mighty, because He upholds all things, for He is the one Upholding all things by the word of his power (Hebrews 1:3). As Job says, If strength be demanded, he is most strong (Job 9:19). He is Great, because the multitude of creatures does not exhaust His power; indeed, He is still able to bring forth innumerable things. He is powerful, able to do all things, for your power is at hand when you will it . He is the Lord of hosts with regard to His governance, particularly over all rational beings in heaven, on earth, and in hell. As it is asked, Is there a number to his hosts? (Job 25:3).

Second, the prophet shows God's perfect knowledge, which is presented in two points:

1. He describes the perfection of God's knowledge: He is great in counsel, meaning perfect in the ordering of wisdom, and incomprehensible in human thought. As Job says, Behold the great God who exceeds our knowledge (Job 36:26). And as Paul writes, O the height of the riches of the wisdom of the knowledge of God! How incomprehensible are his judgments, and inscrutable his ways! (Romans 11:33).
2. He speaks of how this knowledge relates to the execution of justice: whose eyes are open upon all the ways of the children of Adam. For, His eyes are upon the ways of men, and he considers all their steps (Job 34:21).