The plans of the false prophets and the leadership of Judah were however not the Lord’s plans. He was about to accomplish “the intents of his heart“ by pouring out his judgment, which has been Jeremiah’ message all along.1 In the latter days you will understand it clearly,
says the Lord. The Hebrew phrase b-ah-ha-rit ha-yamim, translated as in the latter days,
simply means afterwards.
Once the Lord has accomplished his intents and poured out his judgment, it is going to be perfectly clear to both the false prophets and the people just how false the message of peace really was, and how faithfully Jeremiah was speaking the Lord’s word. Only after the final exile and destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC would the eyes of some be opened to see that Judah had failed completely in her covenant relationship and that judgment was inevitable. But this does not mean that the Lord’s covenant purposes have been defeated by Judah’s sin. The intents of his heart
do not end with judgment. Through judgment he will go on to bring about a purification of the nation and the promise of a new covenant that would guarantee the fulfillment of his purpose for his people, and his world.2
20 The anger of the LORD will not turn back until he has executed and accomplished the intents of his heart. In the latter days you will understand it clearly.