Jeremiah 6:19Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Listen, O earth. When they refuse to hear, He directs His message to the elements. Because they declare, 'We will not listen,' He exclaims, 'O earth, pay attention.' It is not until He brings calamity upon them that they invite it upon themselves. Look closely. They will not heed My words. Observe how they face punishment, not merely for failing to obey the law, but also for their unwillingness to listen. What effort, what physical toil is necessary to truly listen.

See, I will bring calamity upon this people, the consequence of their thoughts and waywardness; they have not heeded My messengers and have turned away from My commandments. He refers to the afflictions and judgments faced by those who endure them as calamity, and these judgments are directed not at the nations summoned to the truth of the Gospel, but at those who responded, "We will not listen." And he will experience the result of his own thoughts or waywardness, as David states: “The labor of your hands you shall eat” (Psalm 127:2). The reason is clear: they did not heed the words of the Lord and rejected His commandments.

Behold, I am bringing disaster upon this people, says the Lord. What kind of disaster? The fruit of their evil disposition. That is: I will allow only that to come to light which they have sown and nourished, for evil is not My seed, nor is it My harvest. The disaster that I will bring upon My people is the fruit of their evil thoughts.