Fragments on Jeremiah

Lamentation of Idolatry§1

1The mountains and hills, once considered powerful and sacred, were truly in a state of falsehood. The people had forgotten the true God and instead turned to idolatry, building temples and altars on these mountains and hills to offer sacrifices to demons. This shame and error consumed the labors of their fathers from their youth, leaving them with a loss of understanding and a troubled conscience. The prophet laments over the slain, and his soul faints at the thought of the destruction of Jerusalem. He calls out to the people to run around the roads of Jerusalem, to see the devastation and to pity the city. However, he is hindered by his own sin and the excess of sin in the city, which has incurred a more savage anger from God.

The people's idolatry and error have led to their downfall, and they are now poor and unable to atone for their sins. Christ himself clarifies this, saying that the scribes and Pharisees are hypocrites who traverse sea and land to make one proselyte, but neglect the true meaning of their faith. The prophet seeks to show one faithful man among those surrounding, but it is a difficult task due to the prevalence of sin and error.

To whom can I speak and testify, when they despise the word of Christ and reject those who listen to him, saying that he is possessed by a demon and has lost his mind?

Why do people listen to him, when they can see the evil that others do in the cities of Judah, and they have been judged and condemned by their own actions, as if by a vote?

Idolatry of Human Wisdom§2

2The creation was worshiped, and the works of their own hands were revered, but they themselves received the things from divine wrath, the things from divine origin, on their own heads.

This was not without consequence, for it is written that the nets are spread for the winged ones, as it is written.

The wise were humbled.

It seems that the wise here refer to the Greek logicians, poets, and writers, who have a fluent and polished tongue, but are devoid of true wisdom in their hearts.

As the all-wise Paul writes, they were foolish in their thoughts and their foolish heart was darkened, claiming to be wise, they became foolish (Romans 1:22).

Therefore, they are wise in speech, but foolish in heart.

The wisdom of this world is foolishness before God, as it is written (1 Corinthians 3:19).

For it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:31).

To place one's hope on other things is a futile endeavor, yielding no real benefit, for a secure pledge for salvation is to trust in God, who is all-powerful.

Consider the nature of clay, which can be molded and shaped with ease, its form changing according to what has come from it.

Are not the words...?

The evangelical proclamation, which brings salvation, is like a fire, or perhaps it is even the Holy Spirit herself who accomplishes this work.

As it is written, they became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish heart was darkened (Romans 1:21).

Spiritual Participation§3

3The participation in the Spirit is compared to fire, and John the Baptist speaks about this and Jesus Christ, saying he baptizes with water for repentance, but Christ says he came to bring fire on the earth.

Christ says, 'I came to bring fire on the earth, and what do I desire if it is already kindled?' (Luke 12:49).

John the Baptist says, 'I baptize you with water for repentance' (Matthew 3:11).

Those who were once drawn back to Judaism, however, did not keep the irrevocable things, for they were again subject to the yoke of slavery, and in doing so, they despised the truth itself.

We are justified by the free gift of life in Christ, through grace, without paying the price of freedom, but rather gaining it through the Lord's gentleness and philanthropy.

The Lord says, 'I will take vengeance on Ammon' (Nahum 1:1).

You are not stronger than Ammon, which dwells in rivers, with water around her, whose wealth is the sea, and water her walls; Ethiopia her strength and Egypt, and no end to her flight; and Libyans became her helpers, and she will go into exile (Nahum 3:8-10).

Refusal to Acknowledge the Law§4

4The present times are characterized by the elders of creation associated with Alexander, and it is possible that a city existed in that location before Alexander, which had ceased to exist, and he rebuilt it.

According to some, the Egyptians refer to Ammon as the god, from which the Ammonian region is named, and they consider him the son of the goddess, deified by her.

The statue of Ammon, which is handmade, will be taken by the Babylonians, along with the other gods they introduce.

The phrase 'I will avenge' applies generally to Pharaoh and Egypt.

He sent angels to the nations, and the region he spoke of is referred to as angels by Jeremiah, while Symmachus gave a message, which could be thought of as a siege.

He calls the divine impulse towards the nations, and the movement from it, angels, for having been moved by God towards war, they provoked each other, as Abdiu says, and they joined those from Israel against Idumea and the surrounding nations.

Turning towards Idumea, he says: 'Behold, I gave you a little among the nations, but you became contemptible, thinking big in difficulties, not knowing that you will be captured even if you exalt your dwelling like an eagle.', and to him, Idumea will become desolate.

Abdiu said again: 'The house of Esau will become a stubble, and it will be burned, and there will be no one to kindle a fire in the house of Esau' (Obadiah 1:18).

The proverb also holds true among outsiders: 'Not even a firebrand was left, among those who were utterly destroyed.', for someone used to go before, carrying fire, and purifying the armies before the battle, and it was a law not to raise a hostile hand against this.

We have healed Babylon, as stated in 70.1457.

In this context, Babylon is named Jerusalem among these things, as they strive to imitate its ways and do not relinquish their claim to the land of the nations, having attained complete possession.

They refuse to honor the law, which is the beneficial aspect of prophetic guidance.