Lectionary Calendar

Tuesday, December 3rd, 2024
the First Week of Advent

Attention!

StudyLight.org has pledged to help build churches in Uganda. Help us with that pledge and support pastors in the heart of Africa.
Click here to join the effort!

Bible Commentaries
Jeremiah 18

JeremiahJer 17 JeremiahJer JeremiahJer 19

Search for…

Resource Toolbox

Print version Copyright Bibliography

Verses 1-23

Intro:
1. Each one of these pottery pieces tell a story.
  1. Qumron – A scribe for a day.
  2. Shiloh – Set apart for the Lord.
  3. Tel Marisha – Historical Accuracy of the Bible.
  4. Lamp – Not to place it under a bushel.
2. The Lord loves using this picture of himself as a Potter!
  1. As far back as Gen.2:7 “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground,” – (yatsar - to mould into a form; espec. as a potter;) (Strongs)
3. Here in ch.18 we have a vessel in the making.
4. 2 Parables: Pottery Watching! & Pottery Smashing!
POTTERY WATCHING! CH.18
Watching the Potter! (1-4)
1. 30 Hebrew words are used for pottery. It was a major industry in the Near East.
2. Note: He received this message not in prayer, not in church(Temple), not from his Pastor, but while watching a man throw a pot in his daily work.
  1. “God reveals Himself in strange places & at unexpected seasons. For instance He once revealed Himself in a stable!” (Charles E. Jefferson)
3. See if you can find God in the natural!
4. That’s what devotion books are all about: “Finding spiritual application, from day to day observation!” (me)
5. The potter worked a wheel that was made of 2 parallel stone wheels attached by a shaft. He turned the bottom wheel w/his feet.
  1. It is a comfort to know God is the Potter who spins the wheel of “life”. He alone controls its speed.{book-stop the world I want to get off!} (Erma Bombeck)
6. Vs.4 – Here the emphasis is on the “remaking”!
  1. We see great examples of the Lord remaking many individuals: Peter, Saul of Taursus; Matthew, me!
  2. Q: Is there anyone we’ve given up on? - God is soooo Patient!
  3. The Scottish preacher Alexander Whyte used to say, “that the victorious Christian life was a “series of new beginning’s.”
  4. God gave new beginning’s to Abraham after lying; Moses after misrepresenting him; David after his adultery; Jonah after his running; Peter after his denying; & he can do the same for us today!
7. Jeremiah watched & saw the clay resisting the potters hand so that the vessel was ruined.
  1. But the Potter patiently kneaded the clay into another vessel.
  2. This was written in the early years, when they could still repent.
  3. I remember 3 ways to start over on a vessel. Collapse it; Cut it down; or squeeze it.
    1. Collapse – Someone’s world wcanill collapse in on them, maybe a tragedy happens in there life that reshapes them.
    2. Cut it down – Sometimes our pride needs to be cut down.
    3. Squeeze it – Other times the Lord puts a squeeze on our finances or something to get our attention.
  4. I heard sometimes a potter has to beat on the clay w/a wooden mallet to get all the bubbles out of the clay…Apply that!
God Fashions Clay! (5-10)
1. Vs.6 - We are not in the hands of an invisible force but in the hands of a person, Almighty God! {Clay cannot mold itself}
  1. Rom.9:19-21 “You will say to me then, "Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?" 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?" Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?
  2. What other hands has God used to mold your life?
    1. Parents; siblings; teachers; coaches; ministries; pastors;…
    2. By resisting these, we are resisting the hand of God!
    3. Rom.13:1,2 “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. Forthere is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.”
2. Vs.7-10 - As the Potter had power over the clay, so God has Sov. Authority over the nations.
  1. “God is not irresponsible nor arbitrary in what He does. He is free to act as he pleases. His actions are always consistent w/his nature, which is Holy, just, wise, & loving.”
  2. Remember He doesn’t need our advice, nor do we have the right to criticize what he does.
    1. Rom.11:34 “"For who has known the mind of the LORD? Or who has become His counselor?"
    2. Rom.9:20 “O man, who are you to reply against God?”
  3. Vs.10 – God doesn’t change in character nor needs to Repent of his actions, but He has the Sov. Freedom to alter His actions depending upon the responses of the people.
God Fashions a Plan! (11-17)
1. Vs.11 - “fashioning” – another Hebrew word related to the word potter.
2. Vs.13 – “a very horrible thing” – a strong term for idolatry.
3. Vs.14 – Imagine leaving a delicious pure spring, to drink from the gutter(idolatry).
4. Vs.15 – They weren’t on God’s safe highway, but on a detour down a dangerous & painful pathway!
  1. A pathway was narrow, insufficient, & dangerous.
5. Vs.17 – God was turning His back on them.
6. “East wind” – Ps.48:7 “As when You break the ships of Tarshish With an east wind.”
  1. Now the Lord will be like a wind, not to save but to scatter them.
The Conspiracy! (18)
1. Proud sinners do not like hearing about Gods sovereignty, nor about God’s judgment.
  1. They think that if they silence the messenger they will silence the Lord. Ps.2:4 “He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The LORD shall hold them in derision(mockery/ridicule).”
2. Their argument: We have plenty of priests, prophets, & elders. We can do w/o Jeremiah.
3. “w/the tongue” – His enemies plotted a “smear campaign” consisting of lies about him.”
  1. The plot probably included quotes from his messages that suggested he was a traitor to Judah. How? (a traitor because he was speaking against Judah)
  2. Q: “If a doctor detects cancer is he nicer to not burden you with such bad news?”
4. Faithful servants don’t enjoy opposition but they do learn to expect it!
  1. Jn.16:33 “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
Jeremiah’s Agony! (19-23)
1. This is Jeremiah’s 5^th lament concerning his situation.
2. His words seem pretty harsh – but remember he is a divinely sent prophet speaking for God.
  1. At least he is honest before God!
3. God will remake you & remake you,…till you get too hard, then one day…His only option is to shatter you!

return to 'Top of Page'

Verses 1-23

Intro:
1. Each one of these pottery pieces tell a story.
  1. Qumron – A scribe for a day.
  2. Shiloh – Set apart for the Lord.
  3. Tel Marisha – Historical Accuracy of the Bible.
  4. Lamp – Not to place it under a bushel.
2. The Lord loves using this picture of himself as a Potter!
  1. As far back as Gen.2:7 “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground,” – (yatsar - to mould into a form; espec. as a potter;) (Strongs)
3. Here in ch.18 we have a vessel in the making.
4. 2 Parables: Pottery Watching! & Pottery Smashing!
POTTERY WATCHING! CH.18
Watching the Potter! (1-4)
1. 30 Hebrew words are used for pottery. It was a major industry in the Near East.
2. Note: He received this message not in prayer, not in church(Temple), not from his Pastor, but while watching a man throw a pot in his daily work.
  1. “God reveals Himself in strange places & at unexpected seasons. For instance He once revealed Himself in a stable!” (Charles E. Jefferson)
3. See if you can find God in the natural!
4. That’s what devotion books are all about: “Finding spiritual application, from day to day observation!” (me)
5. The potter worked a wheel that was made of 2 parallel stone wheels attached by a shaft. He turned the bottom wheel w/his feet.
  1. It is a comfort to know God is the Potter who spins the wheel of “life”. He alone controls its speed.{book-stop the world I want to get off!} (Erma Bombeck)
6. Vs.4 – Here the emphasis is on the “remaking”!
  1. We see great examples of the Lord remaking many individuals: Peter, Saul of Taursus; Matthew, me!
  2. Q: Is there anyone we’ve given up on? - God is soooo Patient!
  3. The Scottish preacher Alexander Whyte used to say, “that the victorious Christian life was a “series of new beginning’s.”
  4. God gave new beginning’s to Abraham after lying; Moses after misrepresenting him; David after his adultery; Jonah after his running; Peter after his denying; & he can do the same for us today!
7. Jeremiah watched & saw the clay resisting the potters hand so that the vessel was ruined.
  1. But the Potter patiently kneaded the clay into another vessel.
  2. This was written in the early years, when they could still repent.
  3. I remember 3 ways to start over on a vessel. Collapse it; Cut it down; or squeeze it.
    1. Collapse – Someone’s world wcanill collapse in on them, maybe a tragedy happens in there life that reshapes them.
    2. Cut it down – Sometimes our pride needs to be cut down.
    3. Squeeze it – Other times the Lord puts a squeeze on our finances or something to get our attention.
  4. I heard sometimes a potter has to beat on the clay w/a wooden mallet to get all the bubbles out of the clay…Apply that!
God Fashions Clay! (5-10)
1. Vs.6 - We are not in the hands of an invisible force but in the hands of a person, Almighty God! {Clay cannot mold itself}
  1. Rom.9:19-21 “You will say to me then, "Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?" 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?" Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?
  2. What other hands has God used to mold your life?
    1. Parents; siblings; teachers; coaches; ministries; pastors;…
    2. By resisting these, we are resisting the hand of God!
    3. Rom.13:1,2 “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. Forthere is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.”
2. Vs.7-10 - As the Potter had power over the clay, so God has Sov. Authority over the nations.
  1. “God is not irresponsible nor arbitrary in what He does. He is free to act as he pleases. His actions are always consistent w/his nature, which is Holy, just, wise, & loving.”
  2. Remember He doesn’t need our advice, nor do we have the right to criticize what he does.
    1. Rom.11:34 “"For who has known the mind of the LORD? Or who has become His counselor?"
    2. Rom.9:20 “O man, who are you to reply against God?”
  3. Vs.10 – God doesn’t change in character nor needs to Repent of his actions, but He has the Sov. Freedom to alter His actions depending upon the responses of the people.
God Fashions a Plan! (11-17)
1. Vs.11 - “fashioning” – another Hebrew word related to the word potter.
2. Vs.13 – “a very horrible thing” – a strong term for idolatry.
3. Vs.14 – Imagine leaving a delicious pure spring, to drink from the gutter(idolatry).
4. Vs.15 – They weren’t on God’s safe highway, but on a detour down a dangerous & painful pathway!
  1. A pathway was narrow, insufficient, & dangerous.
5. Vs.17 – God was turning His back on them.
6. “East wind” – Ps.48:7 “As when You break the ships of Tarshish With an east wind.”
  1. Now the Lord will be like a wind, not to save but to scatter them.
The Conspiracy! (18)
1. Proud sinners do not like hearing about Gods sovereignty, nor about God’s judgment.
  1. They think that if they silence the messenger they will silence the Lord. Ps.2:4 “He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The LORD shall hold them in derision(mockery/ridicule).”
2. Their argument: We have plenty of priests, prophets, & elders. We can do w/o Jeremiah.
3. “w/the tongue” – His enemies plotted a “smear campaign” consisting of lies about him.”
  1. The plot probably included quotes from his messages that suggested he was a traitor to Judah. How? (a traitor because he was speaking against Judah)
  2. Q: “If a doctor detects cancer is he nicer to not burden you with such bad news?”
4. Faithful servants don’t enjoy opposition but they do learn to expect it!
  1. Jn.16:33 “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
Jeremiah’s Agony! (19-23)
1. This is Jeremiah’s 5^th lament concerning his situation.
2. His words seem pretty harsh – but remember he is a divinely sent prophet speaking for God.
  1. At least he is honest before God!
3. God will remake you & remake you,…till you get too hard, then one day…His only option is to shatter you!

return to 'Top of Page'

JeremiahJer 17 JeremiahJer JeremiahJer 19

Copyright Statement
These files are the property of Brian Bell.
Text Courtesy of Calvary Chapel of Murrieta. Used by Permission.

Bibliographical Information
Bell, Brian. "Commentary on Jeremiah 18". "Bell's Commentary". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/cbb/jeremiah-18.html. 2017.

Bible CommentariesJeremiah 18

Bell's Commentary on the BibleBell's Commentary

Verses 1-23

Verses 1-23

Bible Commentaries
Jeremiah 18