SWORD OF THE SPIRIT 1157
“The Potter’s House”
The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will let you hear my words.” So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was working at his wheel. And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do. Then the word of the Lord came to me: “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the Lord. Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. – Jeremiah 18:1-6
Come with me to the Potter’s house. The air is filled with the earthy scent of wet clay. We are reminded that God created us from the dust of the earth and that we will return to the dust.
Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return. So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. – Genesis 2:7 – Genesis 3:19 – Psalm 90:12
We see the Potter, intently focused on the clay he is working to shape and mold into something useful and purposeful. We are reminded that God knows us intimately. His thoughts are always on us – each of us – always.
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! – Psalm 139:17
With gentle pressure we see the Potter’s hands form the clay. The clay cannot form and shape itself. How prideful and arrogant we are when we declare that we are ‘self made’.
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
– John 15:5 – Philippians 4:13
The room is filled with many earthen vessels of all shapes, sizes, and uniqueness. Each is a one of a kind. Each is a work in process. The potter knows each of them intimately. Each was formed with a plan and purpose in mind. Similarly, Before He created us God had plans for us.
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. – Jeremiah 29:11
Can the Lord not do to us as the potter does to the clay? Do we have a right to question what God is doing? Do we have the right to tell Him, ‘No. My plans are better’? We may not see clearly what God’s plan is but by faith and trust we must yield to Him as the clay yields to the Potter’s hands.
The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. – Proverbs 16:9 – Proverbs 3:5-6
We see the wheel that the clay sits on. The wheel spins at speeds under the potter’s control. The combination of the spinning wheel and the gentle pressure of the Potter’s hands create the circumstances that shape the vessel. The earth we live on spins on its axis and the days come and go. Each day brings new circumstances and new pressures that shape us and test us.
But you, O Lord, know me; you see me, and test my heart toward you… so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. – Jeremiah 12:3 – 1 Peter 1:7
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28
We see that the vessel was spoiled as it was being worked. There was perhaps an impurity in the clay or an area that was unyielding and remained hardened and the Potter’s plan for its shape became marred by the hardened area. Note that the Potter continued to work to reshape and to soften the hardened area.
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. – 2 Peter 3:9
Outside the Potter’s house we find the Potter’s field where the broken shards of fired pottery that were flawed and failed the firing process. Sometimes the flawed nature of the clay does not show up until it is tested in the kiln. The vessel can crack and at that point it cannot be recovered and reworked and it is good for nothing and is thrown out.
As we reflect on the Potter’s field it is interesting to note that the blood money paid to Judas Iscariot for betraying Jesus after being returned was used to purchase a Potter’s field.
And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself. But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is blood money.” So they took counsel and bought with them the potter’s field as a burial place for strangers. – Matthew 27:5-7
We may feel that we have failed because of our sin and rebellion against God and that there is no hope for us. We may feel like the fired and failed pottery thrown into the Potter’s field. But thanks be to God for the blood of Jesus shed for us. God made a way that even broken lives can be healed and made whole again.
But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. – Isaiah 53:5
Pray for a heart that will yield in faith and trust to the Lord’s shaping and molding. Pray for the Holy Spirit to give you discernment that you may know His will and plan for your life. Allow Him to direct your steps.
Pray also for our nation. Pray that God will raise up people to govern our land whose hearts are not hardened toward Him and His Living Word, our Lord Jesus. Pray that the Lord will work to shape and mold those who represent us in our nation. Pray that their hearts will be for the Truth of God and not for evil.
Sword of the Spirit 