The divided kingdom · Jeremiah 18
Jeremiah at the Potter’s House
God says to Jeremiah: “Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear my words.” The prophet finds the craftsman working at his wheel. The vessel he is shaping is spoiled in his hand; he makes another one, “as seemed good to the potter to make it.” The LORD explains: “Like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel!” A nation threatened with destruction can be spared if it turns from its evil; a nation promised blessing loses it if it does evil. Jeremiah is to call Judah to turn from its evil ways, but the people answer: “It is no use! We will follow our own plans.” Then they plot against him: “Come, let us strike him with the tongue!” Jeremiah turns to the LORD.
What happens
- The LORD sends Jeremiah to the potter’s house Jeremiah 18:1–2
- The spoiled vessel: the potter makes another Jeremiah 18:3–4
- “Like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand” Jeremiah 18:6
- A nation turns from its evil: God relents of the disaster Jeremiah 18:7–8
- “It is no use! We will follow our own plans” Jeremiah 18:12
- A plot against Jeremiah: “let us strike him with the tongue” Jeremiah 18:18
Who is in this story
The lesson
We are the clay and God is the potter: he shapes and reshapes, but he responds to our attitude. When we return to him, he relents of the disaster he announced; when we dig in our heels, judgment comes. It is better to let ourselves be shaped.
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.
Quick quiz on this story
Where does God send Jeremiah to hear his words?
“Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.” Jeremiah finds the craftsman at work on his wheel. Jeremiah 18:2–3
What does the potter do with the vessel that did not turn out?
The vessel was spoiled in the hand of the potter, as can happen with clay; “so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.” Jeremiah 18:4
What does the LORD say about a nation threatened with destruction that turns from its evil?
“If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.” On the other hand, a nation that does evil forfeits the good it was promised. Jeremiah 18:7–8
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