¹The LORD gave another message to Jeremiah. He said,
2"Go down to the shop where clay pots and jars
are made. I will speak to you there."
³So I did as he told me and found the potter working
at his wheel. ⁴But the jar he was making did not
turn out as he had hoped, so the potter squashed the jar
into a lump of clay and started again.
⁵Then the LORD gave me this message: ⁶"O Israel, can I not do
to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay
is in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand."
(Jeremiah 18:1-6)

Let's go visit this work place with Jeremiah. What do we see there? Notice firstly ...

THE POTTER AT WORK (vs. 3)

John Thompson¹ describes the kind of scene we may be looking at.

   The potter was a key person in Israelite society. He had become a specialist craftsman by the time of Saul and David, around 1000 BC. Jeremiah visited a pottery shop in Jerusalem ... The potters may generally have worked on the south side of the city near the valley ... A potter's workshop was cut like a cave into the limestone at Lachish shortly before Israel emerged as a nation in the Late Bronze Age. The cave would create an even temperature for drying, and being outside the town walls reduced the fire risk from the kiln, which was located deep in the cave.
   There was space for preparing the clay, another for storing both clay and fuel for the kiln, a drying area and a storage area for pots which needed a second treatment.
   Among the tools discovered was a stone mortar for grinding the pigments used in painting the products. There were pottery templates used to smooth the surface of the object on the wheel, a bone point for cutting surplus clay from the rim, pebbles used for burnishing, and stone bases for a slow wheel. Several people would have worked together in this pottery ...
   Potters then, as now, 'threw' their bowls and jars on a 'wheel'. There were two types. The slow wheel was a simple wooden or stone turntable rotated by hand or foot. The flat turntable slotted onto a conical pin projecting from the lower stone. The potter put the clay on the turntable, shaping the object with his hands as it rotated. This type of wheel would not allow the potter to make high-class products which needed to be perfectly symmetrical.
   The fast wheel gave him more versatility and a faster rate of production. The throwing table was connected by an axle to a stone or wooden flywheel which the potter kicked with his foot, producing greater speed and leaving both hands free to work the clay.

With Jeremiah, we watch in awe as the potter works with his clay. We note that the word Jeremiah uses of the potter, is the Hebrew word yatsar 'to form, to fashion.' Jeremiah also uses this word when speaking of the Lord with reference to his creative activity.

   He made the earth by his power, and he preserves it by his wisdom. He has stretched out the heavens by his understanding. When he speaks, there is thunder in the heavens. He causes the clouds to rise over the earth. He sends the lightning with the rain and releases the wind from his storehouses.
   Compared to him, all people are foolish and have no knowledge at all! They make idols, but the idols will disgrace their makers, for they are frauds. They have no life or power in them. Idols are worthless. They are lies! The time is coming when they will all be destroyed.
   But the God of Israel is no idol! He is the Creator (yatsar) of everything that exists, including his people, his own special possession. The LORD Almighty is his name! (Jeremiah 51:15-19)

One of the psalmists also uses this same word 'yatsar' when referring to the creation of our hearts, the innermost person, the person we really are.

   The LORD looks down from heaven and sees the whole human race. From his throne he observes all who live on the earth. He made (yatsar) their hearts, so he understands everything they do. (Psalm 33:13-15)

And now in our visit to the potter's place of work our attention is drawn to ...

THE LUMP OF CLAY  (vs. 4-6)

The Clay From A Vessel That Didn't Turn Out Right

The vessel became a disappointment for the potter when it didn't turn out as he had planned. Perhaps some foreign matter had become mixed in with the clay, or maybe some pebbles  creating hard spots in the mixture had made it resistant to the skilful molding of the potter.

There is a lesson here for us. The spoiled vessel is a picture of humankind today. In the beginning 'God created people in his own image. God patterned them after himself. male and female he created them ... Then God looked over all that he had made, and he saw that it was excellent in every way.'² But then something happened. The original vessel became marred by disbelief in what God had said, disobedience, and rebellion, resulting in a fall into sinfulness.³ God's purpose for the people he has created was that they should be vessels that reflected his beauty and glory. But instead they have brought shame on his name by the doing of 'whatever shameful things their hearts desired.'⁴ And, as we read more of Paul's  description of fallen humankind ...

   Instead of believing what they knew was the truth about God, they deliberately chose to believe lies. So they worshipped the things God made but not the Creator himself, who is to be praised forever. (Romans 1:25)

But notice where the clay from the spoiled vessels is. It remains ...

In The Hands Of The Potter

The potter is not away at a committee meeting discussing plans for the rebuilding of his workshop. He is at work remaking the marred vessel. It is in his hands, " ... the potter squashed the jar into a lump of clay and started again." (vs. 4b) Even though the primary lesson to be taken from this picture is for the people of Israel, there is also a lesson in it for all of humankind. Jeremiah writes ...

   Then the LORD gave me this message: "O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand." (vs. 5-6)

And what a good place that is to be, in the hands of the Lord. For his hands are ...

• Skilful hands
     He chose his servant David, calling him from the sheep pens. He took David from tending the ewes and lambs and made him the shepherd of Jacob's descendants, God's own people, Israel. He cared for them with a true heart and led them with skilful hands. (Psalm 72:70-72)
   

• Hands that correct
      David shares his experience with us ...
     "When I refused to confess my sin, I was weak and miserable, and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Finally I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide them. I said to myself, 'I will confess my rebellion to the LORD.' And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone." (Psalm 32:3-5)
   

• Hands that provide for all our needs
     The LORD helps the fallen and lifts up those bent beneath their loads. All eyes look to you for help. You give them their food as they need it. When you open your hand, you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing. The LORD is righteous in everything he does. He is filled with kindness.
     The LORD is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him sincerely. He fulfils the desires of those who fear him. He hears their cries for help and rescues them. The LORD protects all those who love him, but he destroys the wicked. (Psalm 145:14-20)
   

• Sustaining hands
     David prays ...
     "O God, you are my God ... I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night. I think how much you have helped me. I sing for joy in the shadow of your protecting wings. I follow close behind you. Your strong right hand holds me securely." (Psalm 63:1a, 6-8)
   

• Compassionate hands
     They are hands of compassion that continually reach out to help, even to those who resist his love.
     The LORD says, "People who never before enquired about me are now asking about me. I am being found by people who were not looking for me. To them I have said, 'I am here.' I opened my arms to my own people all day long, but they have rebelled. They follow their own evil paths and thoughts." (Isaiah 65:1-2)
   

• Hands strong to save
      He brought Israel out of Egypt ... He acted with a strong hand and powerful arm. (Psalm 136:11-12)
      Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear." (Isaiah 59:1 NIV)
   

• Pierced hands
     Here is a reminder of his sacrificial death, making possible the forgiveness of our sins and the beginning of our remaking in the hands of the divine potter.
     "They have pierced my hands and feet." (Psalm 22:16b)
     "Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the family of David and on all the people of Jerusalem. They will look on me whom, they have pierced and mourn for him as for an only son. They will grieve bitterly for him as a firstborn son who has died." (Zechariah 12:10)
     Following Christ's resurrection we read of Thomas' encounter with him.
  One of the disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin) was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he replied, "I won't believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side."
     Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked. But suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. He said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don't be faithless any longer. Believe!"
     "My Lord and my God!" Thomas exclaimed.
     Then Jesus told him, "You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who haven't seen me and believe anyway." (John 20:24-29.

And so it is that as we visit the work place of the potter we see, in the skilful hands of the potter ...

A NEW VESSEL IN THE MAKING

A new vessel begins to take shape as the potter works again with the clay of the original jar that 'did not turn out as he had hoped'. (vs. 4) Once again we find a lesson here for us today, for we who have turned our lives over to the Lord are also new vessels in the making. Humankind lost the image of God at the time of the fall in the Garden of Eden,³ but repentance and acceptance of the sacrificial death of Christ has brought us forgiveness and placed us in the hands of the Divine Potter. He is at work rebuilding that lost image, an image perfectly portrayed in Christ. Paul writes of this in several of his letters.

   And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called. Those he called, he also justified. Those he justified, he also glorified. (Romans 8:28-30 NIV)

   Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:15-18 NIV)

The rebuilding of the spoiled vessel is something that is taking place in our innermost being. God is at work in shaping our lives ...

• According to what he knows is best for us
     As David says of the Lord in his prayer ...
     "For you are my hiding place. You protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory. The LORD says, 'I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.' "
     Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the LORD. So rejoice in the LORD and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure! (Psalm 32:7-11)
   

• In whatever circumstances we may find ourselves
     In rebuilding our lives the Lord is using the troubles, the difficulties, sickness, health, successes, and the pressures that we meet in everyday life. And, as we have already learned from Paul, ' ... we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. '
     In another of his letters Paul offers this encouragement ...
     Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NIV)
   

• Through the ministry of the Holy Spirit
     Peter mentions this aspect in the introduction to one of his letters.
    Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood. (1 Peter 1:1-2 NIV)
   

• By means of God's word
     Paul saw this happening in the lives of the church members in Thessalonica. He writes encouragingly to them ...
     And we thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe. (1 Thessalonians 2:13 NIV)
     This is why Paul says also to us ...
     Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise. Use his words to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts, And whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, all the while giving thanks through him to God the Father. (Colossians 3:16-17)

Coming from the skilful hands of the potter is a completely new vessel. Paul writes from the personal experience of his own remaking ...

    Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation : that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:17-21 NIV)

©

____________________________________________________________________________
¹Thompson, J. A. LIFE IN BIBLE TIMES. USA: Inter Varsity Press. 1999. pp. 180-182. 
²Refer to Genesis 1:27-31.
³Genesis 3.
⁴Romans 1:24.