Bible Commentaries
Jeremiah 18

Verses 1-23

We now come to the second series of messages before the fall of Jerusalem (18-20), which consists of declarations of God's absolute supremacy. In preparation for this, Jeremiah was sent to the house of the potter. There he saw him at work on the wheels. Power was manifest in his manipulation of the clay, and pity in his remaking of the marred vessel.

The explanation was given to him by Jehovah Himself. The house of Israel was as clay in Jehovah's hand. All His will must be accomplished, and the people could not possibly escape His hand. This message Jeremiah was charged to deliver to the men of Judah, but they persisted in evil, and Jehovah declared their sin to be incomparable. The nations might be challenged, but they could produce nothing like it. What, then, remained but that judgment must fall?

The delivery of this message stirred up new opposition to Jeremiah, and a conspiracy was formed against his life. In resentment, he poured out his soul to Jehovah. He had pleaded their cause, and this was the return they made. Therefore it was surely in accord with the necessity of the case that they should be punished, and he appealed to Jehovah to deal with them in the time of His anger.