House
of Israel, can’t I do with you as this potter? says Yahweh. Behold, as the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, house of Israel.
Jeremiah 18:6
Jeremiah 18 [5.] Then Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, House of Israel, can’t I do with you as this potter? says Yahweh. Behold, as the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, house of Israel. At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up and to break down and to destroy it; if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do to them. At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;
Jeremiah 18 [10.] if they do that which is evil in my sight, that they not obey my voice, then I will repent of the good, with which I said I would benefit them.
Meaning:
- Divine Authority:
Potter as a Symbol of God: The imagery of the potter is a powerful metaphor employed throughout the Bible to represent God's authority and creative power. In this context, God is the divine Potter who shapes and molds the destiny of the house of Israel.
Unquestionable Sovereignty: The rhetorical question, "Can I not do with you as this potter?" asserts God's unquestionable sovereignty. It challenges any doubt about His ability to govern, guide, and transform the lives of His people.
- The Process of Molding:
Clay in the Potter's Hand: The comparison of the house of Israel to clay in the potter's hand underscores the malleability and receptivity of God's people to His divine craftsmanship. It speaks to the ongoing process of molding and shaping that God undertakes in their lives.
Personalized Attention: The intimate image of clay in the potter's hand conveys a sense of personalized attention and care. It signifies the individual and collective nature of God's work in the lives of His people.
- Redemptive Intention:
Redemption through Molding: The overarching message is one of redemptive intention. God, as the Potter, works with the clay to bring about a purposeful and transformed outcome. The molding process signifies God's desire for restoration and renewal.
Hopeful Possibility: The imagery holds a hopeful note, suggesting that no matter the current state of the clay, there is potential for positive transformation in the skilled hands of the Potter. It speaks to the possibility of redemption and a renewed future for the house of Israel.
Practical Application:
Submission to God's Work: Jeremiah 18:6 invites believers to embrace a posture of submission to God's transformative work in their lives. It encourages them to yield to His shaping hands with trust and openness.
Hope in Redemption: The verse instills hope by highlighting God's redemptive intentions. It encourages individuals and communities to trust in the divine Potter's ability to mold them into vessels of honor, despite their current state.
Cross-References:
Isaiah 64:8: "But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand." This parallel passage in Isaiah echoes the potter and clay imagery, emphasizing the relational aspect of God as the Father and the people as the clay.
Romans 9:21: "Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?" The New Testament draws upon the potter and clay metaphor, underscoring God's prerogative to shape vessels according to His purpose.
In conclusion, Jeremiah 18:6 offers a profound insight into God's sovereignty, the process of molding, and His redemptive intentions for His people. It beckons believers to trust in the skilled hands of the divine Potter, who shapes with purpose and redeems with love.
karma (vs forgiven) - vessel
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible