Why do the people repent of their sin and ask the Lord not to spurn the nation for the sake of his name and his glorious throne?
As in the previous lament the people repent of their sin and wickedness (see Jeremiah 14:7). The Lord is called on to be faithful to the covenant with Judah. The temple represents the Lord’s throne and his rule over Judah. If the people are destroyed by a foreign invader, would this not cause the nations to question the Lord’s authority and rule? For the sake of his name, the people urge the Lord not to spurn them. The request for the Lord not to break off the covenant relationship is profoundly ironic since it is these people who have broken it with their stubborn sinfulness. Yet, the covenant did indeed promise this kind of restoration. About this time, Ezekiel was making the same promise to those who had already been taken into exile (Ezekiel 16:59–60).1 The Lord will of course keep his covenant promises, only he will do it by judging Judah for her wickedness.
By speaking these words of confession, Jeremiah is saying what the covenant commands the people to say when they have sinned against the Lord and experience his curse (Leviticus 26:40–41; Deuteronomy 30:1–3). But there is no evidence whatsoever that the people ever spoke these words; certainly not with any heartfelt repentance.2
21 Do not spurn us, for your name’s sake; do not dishonor your glorious throne; remember and do not break your covenant with us.