There are two ways to interpret the scene described in Jeremiah 3:19. Jeremiah could be mocking Judah’s behaviour as they seem to call out to the Lord in times of distress even as they worship false gods on the bare heights.1 A more positive, and preferable, interpretation is that Jeremiah now envisions what will happen when the people come to their senses and turn to the Lord in repentance.2 Jeremiah certainly is never truly optimistic that Judah will turn to the Lord in repentance before they experience the judgment of exile in Babylon. Judgment seems inevitable, but that does not mean that the call for repentance, the dominant theme of Jeremiah 3:1–25, ever disappears.
Jeremiah, therefore, describes the ideal scenario of Judah crying out to the Lord from the very place they used to worship Baal. They finally realize, and lament, the misery that idolatry has brought them as they have perverted their way, they have forgotten the Lord their God.
Jeremiah is not describing an event that actually took place, but rather what he longs to see happen. In doing so, Jeremiah hopes to cause his audience to turn to the Lord in true repentance.3
21 A voice on the bare heights is heard, the weeping and pleading of Israel’s sons because they have perverted their way; they have forgotten the LORD their God.