Jeremiah — Chapter 6
Synopsis: God calls Jeremiah to sound the alarm — the Chaldeans are coming. Jerusalem is incorrigible: she will not receive correction, her prophets prophesy falsely and her priests lord over the people. God finally rejects her: Jeremiah is the assayer who finds only dross (refuse silver).
Verse 16
Thus saith the Lord: Stand ye on the ways, and see and ask for the old paths, which is the good way, and walk ye in it: and you shall find refreshment for your souls. And they said: we will not walk. The famous 'semitae antiquae' (ancient paths) verse — applied to Catholic Tradition against the innovating Reformers. Lapide: the Church's teaching is the 'ancient way' in which alone refreshment (requies animabus vestris — quoted in Matt.11:29) is found. Israel's 'we will not walk' = every heresy and reform movement that departs from Tradition.
Verse 19
Hear, O earth: Behold I will bring evils upon this people, the fruits of their own thoughts: because they have not heard my words, and have cast away my law. The fruits of their own thoughts = sins are self-chosen, self-willed, and therefore self-punishing. God's punishment is the natural consequence of human choices amplified by divine justice.