We are going to look at the story of the potter in Jeremiah 18:1-6. There are a few things in this story that we can draw from if we but just allow ourselves to go deeper into the scriptures.
It reads, “The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.” Jeremiah 18:1-6.
These verses teach us a few spiritual lessons. One of the deep lessons is not written out in away we can just say oh yes, I can see that straight away. One of these things that are not so easy to see, and that is, it teaches us of the God Head Bodily. That is The Father, The Son- Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit working together for our salvation.
In the verses above, God told Jerimiah to, “Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words”. We may not be able to literally go to a potter’s house today, although there are still some around. Yet we can study and look at what happens at the potter’s house when he is making a vessel, or remaking a marred vessel.
Now, lets look at the works of the Potter in his house of work.
When a potter starts making any piece of pottery, he must start with moist clay, moldable clay. He begins to knead it with a little water on his hands to soften the clay even more; always keeping his hands wet with water. Once the clay is softened enough, he starts making a ball, continually putting water on his hands, then with a little thrust, he tosses the ball onto the dead center of the potter’s wheel, turning the ball into a dome like shape. Once the clay is on the center of the potter’s wheel, he starts spinning the wheel, and then he starts to shapen the clay by placing his wet hands onto the clay and begins the molding. Always with the wheel spinning, and always with water on his hands, keeping the clay wet as he works the clay to his desired shape.
Now, to remake a vessel that has become marred, the potter must take it back to the beginning by making it into the dome like shape again. To do this, the marred vessel needs to be kept on the center of the potter’s wheel; flattening the clay and molding it with his hands; bringing the clay back to the dome like shape again. Or the potter may have to start from the very beginning, turning the clay upside down and kneading it again, making the ball, then with a little thrust, tossing the ball back onto the dead center of the potter’s wheel, turning the ball into a dome like shape again. Then he’ll start spinning the potter’s wheel, placing his hands onto the clay as he starts the re-molding of the clay to his desired shape; molding and shaping, working with his hands, always having water on his hands to keep the clay moldable, for it is impossible to work the clay without the water on his hands.
When we put this into Spiritual terms, the clay – vessel represents us, you, and me.
The Potter is God our Father, “But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.” Isaiah 64:8.
The water is the Holy Spirit, as we have learned from John 7:37-39. “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)”
The Hands of the potter represent Jesus; As John 3:35 tells us “The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.” And in John 13:3 we are told, “Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;” and again in Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
Here in the lesson of “The Potter” in Jeremiah 18:1-6, we see God, The Potter, Jesus Hands, and the Holy Spirit, The Water.
Isaiah 29:16 says, Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay: … when things are turned upside down in our life, we should see God working in us, whether or not the turning was a good or bad turning. Remembering that, … we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28.
Without the Father, our Potter, and everything in the hands of the Son, Without the Holy Spirit, it is impossible for us to be molded into a perfect vessel for the kingdom of God. May we allow the work of each, of the God Head Bodily, to do the necessary work within our hearts.
Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. Ezekiel 36:25-27.
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Psalms 51:5-12.
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. Romans 8:1-17.
So much could be said. However, Through prayer, ask of God to work in you, leading you every day, to mold and shape you to be a perfect vessel for His Kingdom. Praying that you will be swift to hear His leading. Note James 1:19.
To go deeper into the scriptures of Jeremiah 18:1-6 please go to the bible study page on the Open The Light Studies website and scroll down to “The Potter”. Do the study and see the wonders of the lessons that God has given us. Study also Romans chapter 8, keeping in mind the work of the Potter working within the God Head bodily.
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