Jeremiah 14:21

Do not abhor us, for thy name's sake,.... Which was called upon them, and which they called upon; they deserved to be abhorred, they had done those things which might justly render them abominable,

Do not abhor us, for thy name's sake, do not disgrace the throne of thy glory: remember, break not thy covenant with us.

The thing which the prophet deprecateth is, the judgments come already and further coming upon this people, the famine, sword, and pestilence, with the drought, under the sad consequents of which they at present laboured; but he prays for the removal of these judgments, and the prevention of such as were yet to come, in this phrase, Do not abhor us; noting to us that the love of God to a people is the root of all good which they can expect, and his hatred and displeasure the root of all the evil that can betide them. Here are divers arguments brought to back this petition. 1. For thy name’ s sake; that is, thine honour and glory sake; an argument often made use of in holy writ, in the prayers of God’ s people, , &c., and upon a very good foundation, whether we consider God’ s concern for his own glory, or the tenure of God’ s promises, promising mercy for his own name’ s sake. He also argueth with God from his former love and kindness to this people, which he had made the throne of his glory. The words are either to be understood of the throne of the house of David, called the Lord’ s throne, , or else the temple, and the ark in it, the more special symbol of God’ s presence: hence he is said to have dwelt betwixt the cherubims, ; so , the prophet saith, A glorious high throne from the beginning is our sanctuary. Lord, (saith the prophet,) we have deserved all the disgrace thou canst throw upon us, but do not thou disgrace the throne of thine own glory. Remember, break not thy covenant with us. Did not Jeremiah then know that God could not break his covenant? Answ. He did know it; but he also knew that it is our duty to pray to God to fulfil it; or possibly he would extend it a little further, and for God’ s covenant’ sake made with the faithful in Israel he would have obtained mercy for the whole body of the nation.

Jeremiah 14:21 Do not abhor [us], for thy name’ s sake, do not disgrace the throne of thy glory: remember, break not thy covenant with us. Ver. 21. Do not abhor us, for thy name’ s sake.] This was to "continue instant in prayer." This was to pray on, and not to faint. If thy suit be not honest, never begin it; and if it be, never leave it. Do not disgrace the throne of thy glory.] The temple, and the ark in it. The Romans held the extinction of the Vestal fire a sign of the destruction of their city, be the cause thereof what it will. We may well think the same of the loss of God’ s ordinances, which therefore we must deprecate, as here, with all our might; for as Bodin said well of obtaining, so likewise for retaining, religion, Non disputationibus sed rogationibus, &c., the business will be the better ejected by requests than disputes. Pray therefore for the peace of Jerusalem, yea, take no nay. Deus ipse qui nullis contra se viribus superari potest, precibus vincitur. The invincible God is overcome by the power of prayer. There is a kind of omnipotence in it, saith Luther. Remember, break not thy covenant with us.] Lo, this is to be God’ s faithful remembrancer, suggesting unto him seasonable items. εφηςποτεαναιτιαςγενηται. - Dion. Halicar., lib. ii. Jerome.

(21) Do not abhor us . . .—Even in the English, and yet more in the Hebrew, we seem to hear the broken accents, words and sobs intermingled, of the agony of the prayer. “Abhor us not . . . disgrace not . . . remember, break not.” The prophet can make no plea of extenuation, but he can appeal to the character of God, and urge, with a bold anthropomorphism, that mercy is truer to that character than rigorous justice, and that His covenant with Israel pledges Him to that mercy. The throne of thy glory.—This is, of course, the Temple (see Jeremiah 17:12). Shall that become a bye-word of reproach, scorned (so the word means) as a fool is scorned?

Verse 21. Do not disgrace the throne of thy glory] The temple. Let not this sacred place be profaned by impious and sacrilegious hands. Break not thy covenant] See Exodus 24:7-8; Exodus 19:5. They had already broken the covenant, and they wish God to fulfil his part. They ceased to be his people, for they abandoned themselves to idolatry; and yet they wished Jehovah to be their Lord; to defend, support, and fill them with all good things! But when the conditions of a covenant are broken by one of the contracting parties, the other party is not bound; and the covenant is necessarily annulled.

21. the throne of thy glory] Jerusalem, or more particularly the Temple, where the visible glory was enthroned above the Ark.

19-21. Do not abhor us — Again the prophet turns in still more importunate pleading to God. His burdened spirit pours out more impassioned supplications.