Lamentations 3:31 Cross References

Lamentations 3:31

31: For the Lord does not abandon anyone forever.

The LORD will not reject his people; he will not abandon his own special possession.

"For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with great compassion I will take you back.
In a moment of anger I turned my face away for a little while. But with everlasting love I will have compassion on you," says the LORD, your Redeemer.
"Just as I swore in the time of Noah that I would never again let a flood cover the earth and destroy its life, so now I swear that I will never again pour out my anger on you.
For the mountains may depart and the hills disappear, but even then I will remain loyal to you. My covenant of blessing will never be broken," says the LORD, who has mercy on you.

I ask, then, has God rejected his people, the Jews? Of course not! Remember that I myself am a Jew, a descendant of Abraham and a member of the tribe of Benjamin.
No, God has not rejected his own people, whom he chose from the very beginning. Do you remember what the Scriptures say about this? Elijah the prophet complained to God about the people of Israel and said,
"Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I alone am left, and now they are trying to kill me, too."
And do you remember God's reply? He said, "You are not the only one left. I have seven thousand others who have never bowed down to Baal!"
It is the same today, for not all the Jews have turned away from God. A few are being saved as a result of God's kindness in choosing them.

"And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, promising not to stop doing good for them. I will put a desire in their hearts to worship me, and they will never leave me.

The LORD will not abandon his chosen people, for that would dishonor his great name. He made you a special nation for himself.

Where is another God like you, who pardons the sins of the survivors among his people? You cannot stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing mercy.

The LORD is merciful and gracious; he is slow to get angry and full of unfailing love.
He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever.
He has not punished us for all our sins, nor does he deal with us as we deserve.

For I will not fight against you forever; I will not always show my anger. If I did, all people would pass away--all the souls I have made.

Just as the heavens cannot be measured and the foundation of the earth cannot be explored, so I will not consider casting them away forever for their sins. I, the LORD, have spoken!

"Have you heard what people are saying?--`The LORD chose Judah and Israel and then abandoned them!' They are sneering and saying that Israel is not worthy to be counted as a nation.

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