Jeremiah gets a bad rap for being too tough on sin. He speaks with clarity about the oppressive consequences of sin, yet also about God’s mercy. 

Jeremiah wrote in the book of Lamentations, “Her oppressors have become her masters” (Lamentations 1:5). He described what happens to a people or a nation that abandons the Lord. Their unconfessed, unrestrained sin will become an open door to oppressive spirits of darkness. They will be ruled, controlled, enslaved, and dragged deeper into pits of darkness, sorrow, and grief will overcome them. 

They look back and remember Jerusalem’s ancient splendor and compare their current reality to what they once experienced. In despair, Israel turned to their prophets, who only led it deeper into deception. 

Jeremiah wrote, “Your prophets have said so many foolish things, false to the core. They did not save you from exile by pointing out your sins. Instead, they painted false pictures, filling you with false hope” (Lamentations 2:7, 14).

Then Jeremiah shifts gears, “Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin each morning afresh. I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” (Lamentations 3:20-24).

Several things will be revealed to a repentant people – God’s love, mercy, and His faithfulness. Each day will be a new day when we live a humble and repentant life. It is upon that foundation that a new future will be revealed. It is in that new understanding of God’s heart where we will place our hope.