The high calling of a prophet did not destroy his own human nature or his personality. Jeremiah was a very tender-hearted man, easily moved by the plight of Israel. As a prophet, he had many strong things to say to Israel, but as a man and a member himself of the chosen people, he had many tears to shed for his people. In his innocence and suffering, his tenderness and affection, Jeremiah is often taken to be a prefiguration of Jesus. In this, he is in himself a revelation of the nature of God.

The word of God continually creates us, drawing us out of nothingness into fullness of being, out of the darkness of evil into the light of God's love. This can be quite a painful experience for us whom God creates and draws to Himself in this way. So much so, that at times God's word may seem a heavy burden and God Himself may seem a harsh God. Like Jeremiah, however, God weeps over us, as on occasion we have seen Jesus weeping over Jerusalem. God weeps for us to convert us to the fullness of truth and love.