God’s people had deserted him and therefore, after many warnings, he deserted them. Even at the time of Jeremiah’s prayer, most of the Judean remnant trusted in the goddess Ishtar rather than in the Lord (Jeremiah 44:1–30).
But Jeremiah knows that God reigns (verse 19)—even over the hearts of people. Therefore, he prays that God would turn his people’s hearts to himself. That is the only way in which they will return to him! The repentance of a people is a gracious gift of God. Note that Jeremiah includes himself with his people: “Restore us.”
The Hebrew verb that is used twice in this verse is the verb shuv.
In the book of Jeremiah it has three meanings: a) inner repentance; b) recovery of broken relationships; c) return to the land of Canaan. All three of these meanings converge in this prayer. God is asked to do all three of these things.
Based on his faith in God’s sovereign rule, Jeremiah also prays that God will renew his covenant with his people “as of old.” With this he prays that God will bring his people back to the land and make them prosperous again as in the glory days of David and Solomon!
21 Restore us to yourself, O LORD, that we may be restored! Renew our days as of old