Thomas Aquinas Commentary Jeremiah 33:1-9

"Moreover the word of Jehovah came unto Jeremiah the second time, while he was yet shut up in the court of the guard, saying, Thus saith Jehovah that doeth it, Jehovah that formeth it to establish it; Jehovah is his name: Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and will show thee great things, and difficult, which thou knowest not. For thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city, and concerning the houses of the kings of Judah, which are broken down [to make a defence] against the mounds and against the sword; while [men] come to fight with the Chaldeans, and to fill them with the dead bodies of men, whom I have slain in mine anger and in my wrath, and for all whose wickedness I have hid my face from this city: Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them; and I will reveal unto them abundance of peace and truth. And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first. And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned against me, and whereby they have transgressed against me. And [this city] shall be to me for a name of joy, for a praise and for a glory, before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them, and shall fear and tremble for all the good and for all the peace that I procure unto it." — Jeremiah 33:1-9 (ASV)

1. Here, he offers consolation especially to the two tribes, and particularly with regard to Jerusalem, where the seat of the kingdom and the priesthood was. Regarding this, there are two points.

   • First, he gives the title of the prophecy, in which he speaks of the prophet's imprisonment: while he was still shut up in the court of the prison, by Zedekiah.

   • Second, regarding the preceding vision, which came second, he speaks of the authority of the One who promises: Thus says the LORD, who will do it, like a craftsman preparing his material; He will form it, by bringing it to its full form; and prepare it, by directing it toward its end. The LORD is His name, because He alone is the Lord of all. For Your name is the LORD; You alone are the Most High over all the earth (Psalms 82:19).

     He then speaks of the firmness and greatness of the promise: Call to me, praying for the people, and I will hear you. This does not mean that I will not bring disaster upon you, but that after the disaster has come, I will free you. Therefore, this is not contrary to what was said before: Therefore, you shall not pray for this people, nor lift up praise or prayer for them, and do not stand against Me, for I will not hear you (Jeremiah 7:16).

     The promise is of something that cannot be grasped by human reasoning: For he knows not. From that time, I have made you hear new things, and things that are kept which you did not know (Isaiah 48:6).

Next, he gives the word of the prophecy, which has two parts:

• First, the promise to the people is made.

• Second, the promise to the kingdom and the priesthood, beginning at Behold, the days are coming (Jeremiah 33:14).

Regarding the first part, the promise to the people, there are three points.

• First, he promises the healing of the wound that has been inflicted.

• Second, he promises joyfulness of heart, beginning at Thus says the LORD: There shall yet be heard in this place (Jeremiah 33:10).

• Third, he promises the tranquility of peace, beginning at Thus says the LORD of hosts (Jeremiah 33:12).

Regarding the first of these points, the healing of the wound, there are three further points.

• First, he addresses the wound that has been inflicted: For thus says the LORD. This concerns the destruction of the buildings: to the houses. The Lord has thrown down and has not spared all that was beautiful in Jacob; He has destroyed in His fury the strongholds of the virgin of Judah and has cast them to the ground (Lamentations 2:2).

  It also concerns the slaughter of men: and to the sword of those that come to the aid of Jerusalem, whether from the Gentiles or from the kingdom of the two tribes. The houses were to fill them with the bodies of men killed when, drawing confidence from these reinforcements, they resisted the enemy. This happened when I hid My face, that is, when I withdrew My protection. The nations shall know that the house of Israel was taken captive for its sins, because it abandoned Me, and I hid My face from them (Ezekiel 39:23).

• Second, he promises the benefit of healing. In general: Behold, I will close their wound. As stated above: I will cover up your scar and heal you of your wounds (Jeremiah 30:17). And particularly regarding the hearing of prayer: and I will reveal to them—by fulfilling what was intended—the prayer, because they had asked Me for mutual peace and true religion. Let there be peace and truth in my days (Isaiah 39:8).

  This healing includes their restoration to their native land: and I will bring back. As stated above: I will reverse the captivity of the tents of Jacob and have mercy on his houses (Jeremiah 30:18).

  It also includes the remission of sin. This involves, first, the cleansing of their guilt: and I will cleanse them. You shall be cleansed from all your iniquities, and I will cleanse you from all your idols (Ezekiel 36:25). Second, it involves their absolution from punishment: and I will forgive all their iniquities. Who forgives all their iniquities and heals all their infirmities (Psalms 102:3).

• Third, he speaks of the fruit of this liberation. First, with regard to the divine glory: and it shall be to Me as a name. As stated above: I will rejoice over them when I do them good (Jeremiah 32:41). I have formed this people for Myself; they shall tell My praise (Isaiah 43:21).

  Second, with regard to the joy of their friends: and a gladness before all the nations of the earth. Mount Zion is established with the joy of the whole earth, on the side of the north, the city of the great King (Psalms 47:3).

  Third, with regard to the distress of those who envy them: and they shall fear. Let the envious peoples see and be put to shame, and let fire devour Your enemies (Isaiah 26:11).