The sorrow of the prophet over the utter perversity of those who would have been the spiritual light of the world, his sorrow over the fate of Zion and of the people carried captive to Babylon, is revealed in the lamentations he has left on record as a memorial of the folly of turning from the counsels of Jehovah to human wisdom. Amid the ruin wrought, Jeremiah could still declare, "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed;" and his constant prayer was, "Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord." Lamentations 3:22, 40. While Judah was still a kingdom among the nations, he had inquired of his God, "Hast Thou utterly rejected Judah? hath Thy soul loathed Zion?" and he had made bold to plead, "Do not abhor us, for Thy name's sake." Jeremiah 14:19, 21. The prophet's absolute faith in God's eternal purpose to bring order out of confusion, and to demonstrate to the nations of earth and to the entire universe His attributes of justice and love, now led him to plead confidently in behalf of those who might turn from evil to righteousness.

Profetens sorg over, at det folk, som skulle have været verdens åndelige lys, var fordærvet i bund og grund, og hans bedrøvelse over Zions sørgelige skæbne og hans folks bortførelse til Babylon afspejles i Klagesangene. Disse nedskrev han for at vise, hvor tåbeligt det er at forkaste Herrens ord og forlade sig på menneskers visdom. Midt i ødelæggelsen kunne Jeremias stadig sige: "Herrens miskundhed er ikke til ende, ikke brugt op." Hans stadige bøn var: "Lad os ransage, granske vore veje og vende os til Herren." Klages. 3,22. og 40. Mens Juda endnu var et selvstændigt kongerige, spurgte han sin Gud: "Har du ganske vraget Juda, væmmes din sjæl ved Zion?" Og han dristede sig til at bede: "Bortstød os ikke for dit navns skyld." Jer. 14,19. og 21. Profeten stolede fuldt og fast på, at det var Guds evige vilje at bringe orden ud af kaos og vise jordens nationer og hele universet sin retfærdighed og kærlighed. Derfor bad han tillidsfuldt for dem, som ville afstå fra det onde og leve retfærdigt.