The Lord dealt harshly with Judah, because that was the only way to get their attention, and when He had it and they repented, then He was as generous as He was harsh,

“I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive” (Jeremiah 29.14).

Therefore, although it appeared that all hope had disappeared, it truly had not, and the Lord was eager to hold the hope before them that they might be motivated to see Him again.