Thomas Aquinas Commentary Jeremiah 4:19-22

"My anguish, my anguish! I am pained at my very heart; my heart is disquieted in me; I cannot hold my peace; because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war. Destruction upon destruction is cried; for the whole land is laid waste: suddenly are my tents destroyed, [and] my curtains in a moment. How long shall I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet? For my people are foolish, they know me not; they are sottish children, and they have no understanding; they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge." — Jeremiah 4:19-22 (ASV)

1. Here, he predicts the destruction of the land.

1. First, he predicts the destruction itself.

2. Second, he describes the effect of the destruction, at I looked upon the land, and behold, it was empty and void (Jeremiah 4:23).

Concerning the first point, there are three things to consider.

1. First, the prophet shows his compassion: my stomach, I am in pain refers to emotional affliction, and the senses of my heart refers to mental anguish. He says, I will not keep silence, meaning he will weep openly. My eyes fail because of my tears, my bowels are troubled (Lamentations 2:11).

2. Second, he proceeds with the order of the destruction, describing the clash of battle: because my soul has heard the voice of the trumpet. This is like, A day of trumpet and battle cry (Zephaniah 1:16).

   He then describes the devastation of the country: destruction upon destruction. This is because the land was devastated after the siege, or because one desolation followed another. Wound upon wound has fallen upon me, it has rushed upon me as a giant (Job 16:14).

   Next is the destruction of the city itself, regarding its houses: my tents are destroyed suddenly. By “tents,” he means houses, and by skins, he refers to the materials from which a tent is made. As it says elsewhere, my tent is laid waste; all my cords are pulled up (Jeremiah 10:20).

   Finally, he speaks of the flight of the citizens: how long shall I see him fleeing? This refers to the army of the Chaldeans. They have gone away without strength, before the face of the pursuer (Lamentations 1:6).

3. Third, he gives the reason for the devastation, which is a lack of proper knowledge: because my people are foolish. They are foolish regarding the knowledge of divine matters, and stupid regarding the experience of its sweetness. They are senseless because they have acted foolishly in choosing their course of action. As Isaiah says, Therefore, my people are led captive, because they have not knowledge (Isaiah 5:13). Regarding their cleverness for doing evil, he says, they are wise. Against this, Romans 16:19 says, I would that you were wise for the good, and simple in wickedness.