S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

The Bible uses symbolism to deepen the message God has for His people. One such symbol is that of potter and clay. The most detailed example is found in Jeremiah 18. God instructed the prophet Jere...

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April 23 2014 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht Supporter ABC/DTS graduate, guitar music ministry Baptist church

With further research, I see that my Ryrie Study Bible has:
Jer. 18:1-11: This parable of the potter teaches the absolute sovereignty of God over NATIONS, not capriciously, but with sensitivity to the possibility of their repenting (v. 8). [Ryrie SB] Wiersbe, too, sees clay as symbolic of nations in Jer. 18:6.

Jeremiah 18:
An Object Lesson from the Making of Pottery
Jer. 18:1: The Lord said to Jer. 18:2: “Go down at once to the potter’s house. I will speak to you further there.” 18:3: So I went down to the potter’s house and found him working at his wheel. 18:4: Now and then there would be something wrong with the pot he was molding from the clay with his hands. So he would rework the clay into another kind of pot as he saw fit. 

18:5: Then the Lord said to me, 18:6: “I, the Lord, say: ‘O NATION of Israel, can I not deal with you as this potter deals with the clay? In my hands, you, O NATION of Israel, are just like the clay in this potter’s hand.’ 18:7: There are times, Jeremiah, when I threaten to uproot, tear down, and destroy a NATION or kingdom. 18:8: But if that NATION I threatened stops doing wrong, I will cancel the destruction I intended to do to it. 18:9: And there are times when I promise to build up and establish a NATION or kingdom. 18:10: But if that NATION does what displeases me and does not obey me, then I will cancel the good I promised to do to it. 18:11: So now, tell the people of Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem this: The Lord says, ‘I am preparing to bring disaster on you! I am making plans to punish you. So, every one of you, stop the evil things you have been doing. Correct the way you have been living and do what is right.’"

Note especially verse Jeremiah 18:8: But if that NATION I threatened stops doing wrong, I will cancel the destruction I intended to do to it.

Also, "If a NATION or kingdom spurned the one true God, then God would decree what? That NATION be rooted out, and pulled down, destroyed, and thrown down." 

(Jeremiah 18:7-10; 
Jeremiah 1:10).

January 26 2019 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Leslie Coutinho Supporter

Jeremiah 18:6: O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? Saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel. 

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord examines the hearts. (Pro 21:2) If one needs the Lord to examine and be the clay to be molded, one needs to be committed to the Potter for the works are of the Lord, and then thy thoughts, are then being established and molded as the Lord wants one to be. Jacob, who obeyed his father and mother, was molded in dreams and visions to bear fruit, thus his ways pleased the Lord and made “his enemies to be at peace with him.” (Pro 16:7/Gen 31:29)

Jacob, being molded, hearkened to the voice of God, and was then the prince with God’s power, was called to be the Israel “Prince with God.” One knows the works of His Hand in his life, yet stumbles sometimes just as Jonah, who fled to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. Jonah was then swallowed by a great fish, who then prayed to be remolded; the Lord spoke to the fish and Jonah was then cast out, for “Salvation is of the Lord.” 

Our Heavenly Father loves us so much and He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (Mat 9:9,13) Being in the “Potters” hand He shapes our lives in the image of His Son Jesus, for which our human nature, being the clay, needs a lot of molding, which may not be easy but painful. Thus, Lord Jesus does not find pleasure in judging people; rather, He is pleased when people who are lost draw to him to be molded. (Luk 15:1)

Isaiah 14:1: For the Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land: and the strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob.

April 30 2023 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report