Jehovah had not utterly rejected Israel, nor was He exceedingly angry with them. But Israel needed to wait on Him until the time of restoration (Matt. 19:28; Acts 3:21), when He will restore the children of Israel to be in His person and in His eternal kingdom to enjoy what He had promised to their forefathers. See note Lam. 3:25^1a.

In vv. 20-22 Jeremiah speaks to Jehovah a challenging word, even a commanding and reproving word. However, Jehovah did not answer him but remained silent. All Jeremiah’s challenges and questions are answered in the following books of the Bible. The consummation of this answer will be the New Jerusalem. Hence, Jeremiah must wait until the New Testament age, until the age of the millennial kingdom, and until the New Jerusalem. Then he will be fully satisfied.

This word, expressed as an imperative, indicates that Jeremiah considered that the responsibility for the turning of the children of Israel depended upon Jehovah. Although Jeremiah wrote here in a human way, his thought was correct. At the time of the Lord’s second coming, the Lord will turn to Israel and appear to them, and they will turn to Him and receive His household salvation (Zech. 12:10; Rom. 11:26; Rev. 1:7).

Although in v. 19 Jeremiah’s expression is divine, in vv. 20-22 he reverts again to writing in a human way.

In vv. 1-18 Jeremiah was writing according to his personal, human feeling, but in this verse his position and angle were changed from himself to God. He refers here to God’s eternal being and His eternal and unchanging government. Jerusalem was overthrown, the temple was burned down, and God’s people were carried away, but Jehovah, the Lord of the universe, remains to exercise His administration.

God’s eternal being and His throne are higher than His lovingkindness, compassions, and faithfulness (Lam. 3:22-23). God’s lovingkindness and compassions can fluctuate, but God’s person and His government remain unchanging forever. In the New Jerusalem, God will be fully unveiled in His person as the eternal King and in His government as His eternal, unshakable kingdom (Heb. 12:28; Rev. 22:3), both of which are the unshakable foundation of His dealing with His people.