Why will the Lord not make a full end, even in those days?

The important truth behind this verse, as well as in Jeremiah 4:27 and  Jeremiah 5:10 is the promise of a faithful remnant from among the Lord’s people who would survive his judgment. Isaiah spoke of this remnant a hundred years before Jeremiah (Isaiah 10:20–11:5). Jeremiah himself speaks of it in Jeremiah 3:14 and Jeremiah 30:11. Even as the Lord renewed his covenant with Israel before they entered the land, he spoke to them through his servant Moses about a day when he would restore a faithful and repentant remnant, even after the nation had experienced the judgment of being driven out of the land (Deuteronomy 30:1–10). When Jeremiah says here, But even in those days, declares the Lord, I will not make a full end of you, he is not referring to the days of renewed blessing, but rather to the days of judgment. Even as the Lord pours out his judgment, there is still hope because he will spare a faithful remnant and not totally destroy the nation.¹ Not even Israel’s stubborn unfaithfulness will derail the Lord’s ultimate purpose of restoring his blessings to the whole world through Israel. He will ensure that there is a faithful remnant to bring his promise to fulfilment, even if this remnant ends up being just one man, Jesus Christ.