The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord:2 “Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will let you hear my words.” 3 So I went down to the potter's house, and there he was working at his wheel. 4 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.
5 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 6 “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. 7 If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, 8 and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it. 9 And if at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it, 10 and if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will relent of the good that I had intended to do to it. 11 Now, therefore, say to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: ‘Thus says the Lord, Behold, I am shaping disaster against you and devising a plan against you. Return, everyone from his evil way, and amend your ways and your deeds.’ 12 “But they say, ‘That is in vain! We will follow our own plans, and will every one act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.’ 13 “Therefore thus says the Lord: Ask among the nations, Who has heard the like of this? The virgin Israel has done a very horrible thing. 14 Does the snow of Lebanon leave the crags of Sirion? Do the mountain waters run dry, the cold flowing streams? 15 But my people have forgotten me; they make offerings to false gods; they made them stumble in their ways, in the ancient roads, and to walk into side roads, not the highway, 16 making their land a horror, a thing to be hissed at forever. Everyone who passes by it is horrified and shakes his head. 17 Like the east wind I will scatter them before the enemy. I will show them my back, not my face, in the day of their calamity.” 18 Then they said, “Come, let us make plots against Jeremiah, for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, let us strike him with the tongue, and let us not pay attention to any of his words.” 19 Hear me, O Lord, and listen to the voice of my adversaries. 20 Should good be repaid with evil? Yet they have dug a pit for my life. Remember how I stood before you to speak good for them, to turn away your wrath from them. 21 Therefore deliver up their children to famine; give them over to the power of the sword; let their wives become childless and widowed. May their men meet death by pestilence, their youths be struck down by the sword in battle. 22 May a cry be heard from their houses, when you bring the plunderer suddenly upon them! For they have dug a pit to take me and laid snares for my feet. 23 Yet you, O Lord, know all their plotting to kill me. Forgive not their iniquity, nor blot out their sin from your sight. Let them be overthrown before you; deal with them in the time of your anger. Meditation Grace shapes the saints to trust God’s sovereignty in all of life, even in our greatest struggles. When Stephen was beaten for his faith, he was not frustrated with God. Stephen prayed for God to forgive those killing him (Acts 7:60) as Christ prayed for those who took His life (Luke 23:34). Love leads us to bless those who persecute. Personally, I identify with Jeremiah’s attitude at the end of this chapter. Acknowledging God’s sovereignty, the prophet asks God NOT to forgive the sins of the people plotting to kill him (23). Grace alone covers the gap between bitterness from a burdensome call and blessing others in the midst of persecution, problems, and pain. Jeremiah was taken to the potter’s house (1-4) to see a visual picture of his prophecy: God is the potter and can mold His people as He wishes (5-11). As God molded Adam from mud (Genesis 2:7) so He will shape His saints through His sovereign grace. The point: For Israel to repent and return to Covenant relationship (11). But they followed their own plans (12), forgot their god (15), and made plots against Jeremiah (18). The rebellion of God’s people and their rejection of God’s prophet led Jeremiah to pray for bitter curses (19-23) rather than blessings. When grace returns us to relationship we are awakened to hear Jesus’ teaching, to love our enemy and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:43-44). Grace was shown to us through Christ’s love, that while we were His enemies He died for us (Romans 5:8-10). God is sovereign and His grace shapes His saints for His service as it sustains us through the struggles. Richly Dwelling -Do you identify with Jeremiah’s bitter prayers? -How does the revelation of God’s sovereignty give you strength? How does the reminder of God’s grace shape you and reframe your perspective on those who persecute you? -Where do you need to acknowledge your rebellion, being an enemy of God in your heart and habits, and receive His grace SO THAT you can love your enemies and do good to those who persecute you? Key Verse 6 “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. Comments are closed.
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AuthorPastor Mitchell celebrates twenty-five years of marriage with Lisa and together they have four adventurous children. |