In verses 25–30, Jeremiah had given the advice to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. Now he gives the reasons for this advice. Verses 31–33 all begin with the word “for.”
A person who has humbled himself before God, has two reasons to have hope: 1) the Lord does not cast off his people forever; 2) he does not bring disaster on his people willingly (with his whole heart).
It is clear from the history of Israel and from the prophecies (Isaiah 54:7–8; Jeremiah 30:11; Jeremiah 46:28) that the Lord does not abandon his people forever. As verse 32 also shows, the scale will always tip over to his mercy. He may bring grief over his people, but his unfailing love toward them is “great”—it weighs heavier than his punishment. When the Lord describes himself toward his people, he emphasizes his mercy, grace, patience, and love (Exodus 34:6–7; Psalm 103:8; Psalm 130:7).
God loves to give grace, forgiveness, mercy, and help. But as verse 33 says, he does not love to bring grief and affliction. As a loving father is pained when he has to discipline his children, so God is pained when he has to punish. Therefore, the humbled Israelite had reason to hope: the disasters would not last longer than what God considered necessary and just.
31 For the Lord will not cast off forever,