Jeremiah 9:11Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

I will turn Jerusalem into a desolate place, a refuge for wild creatures, and the cities of Judah will become a barren land due to the absence of inhabitants. When no clergymen and educators remain, Jerusalem will face desolation or be reduced to ruins, allowing false teachings to take root. It will become a refuge for wild beasts, its towns will lie in desolation, and the Word of God will not abide there. Yet He who declares, “And I will live, and I will walk among them, and I will be their God” (Leviticus 26:12), stands faithful.

I will not bring sustenance upon these, says the Lord; or shall my soul not take vengeance upon such individuals? It is completely consistent for a Judge to allow such a significant deception to go unpunished. He referred to punishment as ‘visitation’; and He employed the term ‘My soul’ in a manner familiar to humanity, for the Divine nature is not composed of body and soul but is singular, simple, and beyond description. Thus, the language reflects our common understanding of humanity. The Prophet then instructs the people of Israel to mourn the devastation of the roads and hills. He notes that there are not only no people present, but also no livestock or birds; for birds prefer to reside in populated areas, yet are rarely found in desolate ones.