John Chrysostom, on Jer 14:9

“Why wilt thou be as a wandering man, as a mighty man that cannot save? but thou, O Lord, art among us, and thy name is called upon by us, forsake us not.”

“Again, the Scriptures speak of God as asleep when the psalmist says, "Arise! Why do you sleep, O Lord?" He does not say this to make us suspect that God sleeps. This would be the utmost madness. By the word sleep the psalm shows God's patience and forbearance toward us. Another prophet has said, "You will not be like a person who sleeps, will you?" Do you not see that we need much help from our understanding and reason when we are searching into the treasure house of the divine Scriptures? If we listen to the words only, if we do not think but take the words as they come, not only will those absurdities follow, but many a conflict will be seen in what has been said.”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.