Session 5 | Jeremiah 18:1-12
JEREMIAH 18:1-12
MEMORY VERSE: JEREMIAH 18:6
Most of us have been in situations where we have witnessed poor leadership and thought things would be better if we were in control. We would have to admit, however, that in the situations where we were in control, things didn’t always turn out the way we hoped. The fact is, we are never in complete control of everything in our lives. The only One who is in complete control of everything is God, and He is working out all things according to His good pleasure, which includes shaping His people for His purposes.
(In PSG, p. 46)
The Lord instructed Jeremiah to visit the potter’s house to learn an important spiritual lesson (18:1-12). The clay being shaped became flawed in the potter’s hands, but he reformed it for his purpose. God told Jeremiah He could treat His people the same way. The Lord might announce either disaster or blessing, but He could also alter His decision based on the people’s response. God told Jeremiah to warn Judah of impending calamity; unfortunately, the people would not respond favorably.
Because the residents of Judah had turned to idols, God would scatter them before their enemies (18:13-17). Meanwhile, Jeremiah’s opponents conspired against him (18:18-23). Jeremiah asked the Lord to take note of his situation and to judge his enemies.
The Lord instructed Jeremiah to buy a clay jar and take it to the Valley of Hinnom, where He promised disaster (19:1-9). His people had completely abandoned Him, even to the point of sacrificing their children to idols. As judgment, Judah would fall by the sword, and the people’s corpses would become food for birds and animals. God said that conditions would get so bad that the dead would also become food for the living.
God then told Jeremiah to shatter the clay jar (19:10-13). Just as one could never mend a smashed jar, so Jerusalem could never be put back together. Jeremiah then returned to the temple and further chastised the people for disobeying God’s commands (19:14-15).
Pashhur the priest heard Jeremiah’s words and had him beaten and placed in stocks (20:1-2). When Pashhur released Jeremiah the next day, Jeremiah reconfirmed Jerusalem’s judgment and specifically highlighted Pashhur’s coming judgment (20:3-6). Pashhur and his household would go into captivity and die in Babylon.
Jeremiah poured out his heart to the Lord (20:7-13). He felt like he had been deceived because serving as a prophet was much more difficult than he had anticipated. If he proclaimed judgment, people mocked him. However, if he kept silent, God’s words became a raging fire within him. Meanwhile, others continued to undermine his ministry.
Jeremiah knew the Lord was with him, which allowed him to offer praise to God. However, Jeremiah also lamented deeply (20:14-18). He cursed the day he was born and did not understand why he had to live with such sorrow.
EXPLORE THE TEXT
1 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: 2 “Go down at once to the potter’s house; there I will reveal my words to you.”
Jeremiah’s messages came from the LORD, proving that the sovereign God of the universe was directing His prophet in a special way. As Jeremiah faithfully obeyed the Lord, God would impart a special word for Judah’s citizens. Jeremiah shared God’s message with God’s authority. This phrase occurs many times in the book of Jeremiah, emphasizing the ultimate Source of his prophecies (7:1; 11:1; 21:1; 30:1; 32:1; 34:1; 35:1; 40:1).
On this occasion, God specifically commanded Jeremiah to visit the potter’s house. The Hebrew wording highlights the urgency of the situation. The Hebrew word translated go down typically denotes a descent in elevation. In Jeremiah 19, God commanded His prophet to purchase a clay jar and take it “down” to the Valley of Hinnom, which was located along Jerusalem’s lower southern edge (19:1-2). The temple, where Jeremiah spent much of his time, was on the highest point of the city, so the potter’s house was likely lower in elevation.
God promised that He would reveal my words once he reached the potter’s house. The assurance of God’s message required the prophet to be at that particular location for the lesson God would teach him. Jeremiah would receive a powerful message from God that day, but first he had to obey God’s initial command.
3 So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, working away at the wheel.
As directed, Jeremiah went down to the potter’s house. While he didn’t understand everything God was doing, the prophet obeyed to the extent that he did understand. He took one step at a time with God, which is a useful example for believers in every generation. We don’t always know exactly what God is planning, but we can trust Him enough to follow the paths He does reveal.
When Jeremiah arrived, he saw the potter working away at the wheel. The Hebrew word translated wheel literally means “two stones.” A potter’s wheel consisted of two flat stones or pieces of wood with sockets in the middle. The larger stone sat on a base and was joined to the upper stone by a vertical shaft. When the potter turned the lower stone with his feet, the upper stone would spin as well. As the clay turned on the upper stone wheel, the potter could shape it into the design he desired.
4 But the jar that he was making from the clay became flawed in the potter’s hand, so he made it into another jar, as it seemed right for him to do.
Jeremiah noticed the potter’s clay became flawed as he shaped it. The word translated flawed has the sense of being corrupted or ruined. Something in the clay was not right. Instead of throwing out the clay, though, the potter simply restarted his project. Because the clay wasn’t dry yet, he could put it back into its original shape and begin something new. As long as the clay stayed in the potter’s hand, he could shape it for his purposes.
The potter reworked the flawed clay into another jar, as it seemed right for him. He knew that the clay was still malleable, so it was still useful. He probably added some water to soften it a bit, and then refashioned it. The clay had not turned out right the first time, but the potter was not finished. It was always a work in progress.
God designs His people to fit His plans and purposes. King David wrote of the tender care God took with him while he grew inside his mother’s womb (Ps. 139:15-16). The Bible also states that God was working in the lives of people like Jeremiah, John the Baptist, and Paul before their births (Jer. 1:4-5; Luke 1:15; Gal. 1:15). Just as the potter designed vessels to fit his purpose, God creates each of us to play a part in the story He is writing. Like the clay, we are always works in progress.
(In PSG, p. 49)
5 The word of the LORD came to me: 6 “House of Israel, can I not treat you as this potter treats his clay?”—this is the LORD’s declaration. “Just like clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, house of Israel.”
The prophet’s affirmation of the word of the LORD again stressed God’s role in the message he communicated. Many prophets used similar wording to stress their role as God’s messengers (Jer. 2:5; Amos 1:2; Hag. 1:2). Sadly, the prophets often suffered persecution because people did not distinguish between God’s message and His messengers. Rather than responding to God directly, they took out their anger on His servants. Nevertheless, Jeremiah and other prophets faithfully proclaimed God’s message despite the personal cost.
God challenged the house of Israel with a question that emphasized His right and authority to treat His people as this potter treats his clay. The question was rhetorical and anticipated an affirmative response. Naturally, God is God and can do whatever He pleases.
Interestingly, God referred to the house of Israel rather than “the house of Judah.” He likely anticipated a day when He would reunite the nation. At any rate, His question provided an indirect affirmation that He could shape His people for His purposes. This is the LORD’S declaration again stresses God’s ongoing role as the Source of Jeremiah’s message to His wandering people (1:8,15,19; 2:9; 3:1; 4:9; 51:53).
The Lord answered His own rhetorical question: just like clay in the potter’s hand, so you are in my hand. Jeremiah had seen the potter’s hand rework the clay. Likewise, God could refashion His people for His purpose.
Many worship services have ended with the hymn “Have Thine Own Way, Lord.” In that hymn, we affirm that God is the potter and we are clay. We ask Him to shape us to His will. Some people may fear giving up their control, but the Bible stresses God’s sovereign hand on our lives to encourage us, not to frighten us. God knows us better than we know ourselves, so we can trust Him to fashion us according to His perfect purpose.
7 “At one moment I might announce concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will uproot, tear down, and destroy it.8 However, if that nation about which I have made the announcement turns from its evil, I will relent concerning the disaster I had planned to do to it.”
God affirmed His sovereignty over everything and everyone. In some cases, He might send judgment that would uproot, tear down, and destroy a nation. The identity of the nation or kingdom did not matter. God holds supreme power over every country and every leader.
The wording used here is similar to what God said when He called Jeremiah as a prophet (Jer. 1:10). He would use them again later to contrast Judah’s judgment and Judah’s restoration (Jer. 31:28). The words stress the thoroughness of God’s judgment. He remained true to His righteous character; even when executing judgment on those who oppose Him.
As sovereign, God can also change the course of His actions if a nation turns from its evil. Again, the nation’s identity is unimportant, because God’s character would lead Him to act with consistency. The word translated turns also can mean “repents.” In context, it carries the basic idea of coming back to God.
The Lord assured Jeremiah that he would relent from sending the disaster He had planned. While the word relent conveys the nuance of change, it is not related to sin since God is perfect. However, He can choose to alter His actions in response to people’s attitudes and behaviors.
God’s words did not openly suggest He might delay or cancel His judgment against Judah. However, since His proclamation of judgment came as a result of his people’s wickedness, if the people’s attitudes and behaviors changed, God might relent. We see this principle in the book of Jonah, as God relented from His plans and spared Nineveh (Jonah 3:10). Likewise in Jeremiah’s day, God said judgment might be altered if the people repented of their evil ways.
9 “At another time I might announce concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it. 10 However, if it does what is evil in my sight by not listening to me, I will relent concerning the good I had said I would do to it.”
God then proposed the opposite possibility. He could initially plan to build and plant a particular country. God might speak words of blessing concerning that people, nation, or kingdom. The words build and plant also imply God’s blessing and restoration elsewhere in Jeremiah (1:10; 31:28). Our sovereign God can destroy kingdoms, but He also heals them again.
Verses 7-8 declared that God might reverse His announcement of judgment if people repented from their wicked ways. Sadly, verse 10 announced the consequences if a nation does what is evil and rejects Him. God’s warnings of judgment did not mean the only recourse was despair, but people should never presume on God’s words of blessing. God warned that if they turned their backs on Him, I will relent concerning the good He had planned. Rather than replacing judgment with blessing, He would replace blessing with judgment.
God has the right and power to forgive those who repent and to judge those who do not. The apostle Paul warned against adopting the view that we can presume on God’s grace and continue in sin (Rom. 6:1-2). God can do beyond all we can imagine (Eph. 3:20), so we need never think a situation is beyond hope. At the same time, we do not view God’s grace as license to live as we please.
(In PSG, p. 51)
11 “So now, say to the men of Judah and to the residents of Jerusalem, ‘This is what the LORD says: Look, I am about to bring harm to you and make plans against you. Turn now, each from your evil way, and correct your ways and your deeds.’”
The Hebrew word translated now indicates the beginning of God’s conclusion. The word appears in other contexts where the speaker is presenting the “bottom line” of what he wants to say (Gen. 44:33 “now”; Josh. 24:14 “therefore”). God instructed Jeremiah to share the words God had given him with the men of Judah and to the residents of Jerusalem. After describing His right to send blessings or curses, He would put the choice before His people.
As things stood, God intended to bring harm and make plans against His people. Jeremiah already had warned them numerous times of the punishment God planned to bring against their rebellion. Now, he reaffirmed that warning again. Interestingly, the Hebrew wording related to bring shares the same root as the word for “potter” earlier in the chapter, creating a play on words. Just as the potter fashioned his clay, the Lord was fashioning His plan against His people.
Judah’s situation was serious; nevertheless, the Lord held out hope if the people would turn to God and correct your ways and your deeds. The word translated turn is the same word that appeared in verse 8 and also can mean “repent.” The wording expresses a special urgency to God’s command. The people needed to repent quickly!
The expression evil way designates Judah’s normal course of life. Because the people had chosen a path of evil, they would not endure. God challenged them to reverse course and to turn their lives in a good direction. They could show their changed hearts by obeying His commands.
12 “But they will say, ‘It’s hopeless. We will continue to follow our plans, and each of us will continue to act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.’”
God anticipated that the people would see their situation as hopeless. As Judah’s circumstances deteriorated, people would yield to despair rather than turning to the God who could rescue them. (See also Jer. 2:25.) Instead, they chose to follow our plans. The word translated plans is the same word that occurred in verse 11 to denote God’s plans. The sovereign Lord was making plans of judgment, yet He also offered deliverance.
However, the people determined to stay with their own futile ways and to act according to the stubbornness of their evil heart. We should probably understand this last portion of verse 12 as representing the attitude of the people more than their actual words. Either way, they persisted in stubbornly resisting God and His purposes.
The word translated stubbornness appears ten times in the Old Testament, including eight times in Jeremiah. Many of those occurrences, including this one, specifically speak of stubborn hearts (Jer. 3:17; 7:24; 11:8; 13:10; 16:12; 18:12; 23:17). God warned His people of disaster, and the hope of restoration was always present. Sadly, most residents of the nation were determined to choose their own course, even if that course inevitably led to ruin.
Years ago, one of my seminary professors suggested that pride often hindered many people from repenting. He noted that acknowledging that the Bible is true means admitting that we’re all sinners—and most people don’t want to do that. Indeed, it’s hard for people to admit they have fallen short of God’s standard. Regardless, God stands ready to forgive anyone who confesses their sins and puts their faith in Jesus
(Rom. 10:9-10). When we do, the sovereign God will shape us for His purpose and use our lives to the fullest.
(In PSG, p. 53)
God
God is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. (See Ps. 135:6; Prov. 16:9.)
Use other Scripture to help understand a Bible passage.
Read other passages that use the imagery of God as a potter to convey His relationship to people (Gen. 2:7; Job 10:8-9; Isa. 29:16; 45:9; 64:8; Rom. 9:20). What new insights do you discover from these passages?