Jeremiah's life was full of grief and pain as he obeyed God in speaking out against the infidelities of the people of Judah. His tribulations produced in him a great testing of his faith and resolution. Yet it was his experience of being rejected as Yahweh's spokesman that convinced him of the approach of the day, when man would be at one with God in a perfect relationship, a personal commitment on the part of every individual. This day, however, could only come after the wayward had been disciplined, and had shown repentance, which would then open the way to God's offer of forgiveness and a fresh start: "I build you once more; you shall be rebuilt" (Jer. 31:4).

God's relationship to His people is one of constant love. God's faithfulness to His people is recognised and praised in a New Covenant of perfect fellowship.

God's love for His people even when they stray in the emptiness of their worship is also reflected in the incident in Matthew's Gospel where the Canaanite woman, one whose people worshipped other gods, appealed to Jesus' love. Her unrelenting commitment in begging for His healing powers to be applied to her daughter showed a personal faith of the strongest kind. This was the kind of personal relationship with God that Jeremiah looked for a personal commitment, and not just empty outward rituals.