Hope after judgment

 Jeremiah 4:26–27 (NRSV)

26I looked, and lo, the fruitful land was a desert, and all its cities were laid in ruins before the LORD, before his fierce anger.
27For thus says the LORD: The whole land shall be a desolation; yet I will not make a full end.

The judgment of God on Israel and Judah would be beyond what they had anticipated. The complete ruin of the cities and the desolation of the land would be the consequences of their refusal to turn away from evil and do what God required of them. This dire warning did not change the hearts of the people who were set on doing evil and rebelling against the God who had delivered them and brought them into the Promised Land. The suffering of the people would be great and measured according to their sins. Yet God would not bring about a complete end of the nation. Israel was still his chosen people and after they received their judgment, he would show mercy and compassion upon them to restore them to the land. God's wrath and anger against the nation would result in great suffering and loss but afterward he would make a way for them to return to the land he had given them. Often we do not consider how angry God is when we betray him and sin against him. Sin is highly offensive to him because he is a holy God who cannot tolerate sin. Our sins caused him to send his only begotten Son to die a cruel death on the cross to shed his blood to atone for our sins. The love of God for the world was displayed on the cross of Calvary. His great love should compel us to seek him and forever be thankful that the punishment we deserved was applied to Jesus the Savior of the world.