Vessels for the Master's Use -- part 2

Let’s continue today with the theme of the Potter and the clay.  If you did not read last week’s blog entry where we introduced this topic, I suggest you do that now before we move forward. The entry will give you some good background to our discussion today.

Now we know by reading Jeremiah 1: 5-6 that Jeremiah knew he was called. It is believed he was around 17-21 years old at that time. We also see in these verses that he was afraid and insecure. He understood what his job was, yet he would still get fearful at times. He was timid by nature, yet given a bold, confrontive message and job to do.

Because of all these circumstances, the Lord speaks to the young prophet in Jeremiah 1: 17 and says, “Therefore prepare yourself and arise, and speak to them all that I command you. Do not be dismayed before their faces lest I dismay you before them.”

Jeremiah’s assignment certainly was not easy. And to add to the mix, he was not liked -- basically by anyone! It did not take long before he found out that:

• Kings did not like his message.
• Rulers did not like his message and he was arrested for preaching it.
• Priests did not like his message.
• Politicians did not like his message.
• People did not like his message and they would smite him with their tongues.
• His own neighbors did not like his message and plotted against his life.

I am sure that these circumstances led Jeremiah to feel lonely.

Did you know that he was directed not to marry either? Let’s look at Jeremiah 16: 1-4 (NKJV). We read these words of Jeremiah:

The word of the Lord also came to me, saying, ² “You shall not take a wife, nor shall you have sons or daughters in this place.” ³ For thus says the Lord concerning the sons and daughters who are born in this place, and concerning their mothers who bore them and their fathers who begot them in this land: ⁴ “They shall die gruesome deaths; they shall not be lamented nor shall they be buried, but they shall be like refuse on the face of the earth. They shall be consumed by the sword and by famine, and their corpses shall be meat for the birds of heaven and for the beasts of the earth.”

Oh my goodness! What a message he was given to deliver! No wonder he was not winning friends and gaining popularity with the people of his time.

Let’s now look at this “message” more in detail that Jeremiah was called on by God to deliver and see how it related to the analogy of a potter and clay.

First, Jeremiah makes it clear that God is Almighty (the Potter) and the people (the clay) are not.

Isaiah 29: 16 (NKJV) certainly supports this Potter / clay relationship where we read:

Surely you have things turned around! Shall the potter be esteemed as the clay; For shall the thing made say of him who made it, “He did not make me”? Or shall the thing formed say of him who formed it, “He has no understanding”?

Isaiah 45: 9 (NKJV) also says:

“Woe to him who strives with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth! Shall the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’ Or shall your handiwork say, ‘He has no hands’?”

Another part of Jeremiah’s message to the people was the truth that God is Sovereign. And as the sovereign Potter, He controls the clay.

Romans 9: 19-21 (NKJV)

¹⁹ You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?” ²⁰ But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” ²¹ Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?

But then we also see that Jeremiah includes in his message that God is long suffering and with this attribute He can (and will) remake the clay over and over until the vessel is fully formed and ready for service.

Isaiah 64: 8-9 (NKJV)

But now, O Lord, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our Potter; and all we are the work of Your hand. ⁹ Do not be furious, O Lord, nor remember iniquity forever; indeed, please look—we all are Your people!

Along with long suffering, our God is loving, and He desires each of us to be a good, useable pot, a chosen vessel. He is God Almighty, our Sovereign Creator and He lovingly desires for each of us to become formed into His image / His design for us.

We will conclude our Potter – clay discussion next week. As we spend some time with the Lord over the next several days, let’s allow Him to speak to us and direct us to some areas where we might need to “get on the wheel” and let Him do His work.

I love each of you very much,

Dr. Sharon Predovich