Jeremiah 18
Gospelcom Bible Gateway

INTRODUCTION

The potter’s workshop was a familiar feature of life in the ancient world. The skills of the potter were always in demand. Pottery was in everyday use in the home, and was fragile. The modern archaeologist has ample reason to be grateful for the innumerable pieces of broken pottery which help him to build up a picture of life in ancient cities.

Jeremiah must often have stopped to look in at the village potter busy at his wheel. Jeremiah watched the potter at his “wheel” (lit. “two stones”). The lower stone was turned with the feet. It was attached by an axle to the upper wheel. As the lower wheel was turned, the upper wheel, on which the lump of clay was placed, rotated. As the wheel turned, the potter skillfully shaped the clay into a vessel by the pressure of his fingers against the pliable material. If the clay did not achieve the desired shape, he did not throw it away. Instead, he patiently reworked it until it became the vessel he wanted it to be. If it became misshapen as he worked it, it was not because of his lack of skill. The clay may have been of an inferior quality, may have contained defects, or perhaps was not sufficiently moist and pliable. It was there in the workshop, as the potter was busy at his daily work, that the word of the Lord came to the prophet. The clay was on the wheel, but the end result was not always acceptable to the potter.

Just as the potter works with clay until he has shaped the pot the way he wants it, so God has a plan for each believer’s life (see 29:11). He does not reject us when we fail but continues his patient work until he makes us what he wants us to be (Phil 1:6). He is the God of the “second chance” (as he was with Jonah and Peter). God’s sovereignty is illustrated in these verses as He acts in ways consistent with his character and in accordance with how we respond to him.

I. The potters house (Verses 18:1-11)

A. People will remember what you tell them and retain 25% if you repeat yourself twice

B. If you see it you will retain 50% vs 10% if you hear it once and 20% if you hear it twice. Jeremiah therefore loved visual aids.

C. Why was the clay marred in the potters hand?

D. Notice Verse 10 which is a key verse in these verses . What does it mean when God "relents or repents"?

E. What is your next move with the Lord?

F. Notice Jeremiah 18:11. What does devising or fashioning (yatsar) mean?

G. What is the response of people to the preaching of Jeremiah?

H. Jeremiah 18:18 - These could be interpreted two ways

1. We have our own prophets and don't need Jeremiah

2. As long as Jeremiah is the prophet opening his mouth we are in trouble. We need to get rid of him and then we will be ok

I. This teaches us a principle of handling guilt.

a. When do you do when you are convicted by the Holy Spirit? What do you do?

1. You could do our own thing and get rid of voices that tell you that you ought to change

2. You could yield to God and repent

b. What would be God's response to you if choose either of these?

J. An honest pray of an honest man - an imprecatory prayer.] Jeremiah 18:18-23

II. Jeremiah 19 - The Sign of the Broken Flask

A. The reason God was about - Jeremiah 19:4-5

B. The exclamation point of Jeremiah's sermon Jeremiah 19:10-12

C. What did the symbolism of the broken flask mean?

D. What is the message of these verses?

E. Notice Verse 15 - How stiff is your neck?

III. Jeremiah 20 The Word of God to Pashur

A.Pashhur, name was changed to " Magor-Missabib" which means "Fear on every side"

B. Stuart Briscoe - the characteristics of a pastor - He must have the mind of a scholar, the heart of a child and the hide of a rhinoceros

C. Verse 9 He is now a "non-prophet" organization

D. Verse 11, 13, 14 Notice Jeremiah's ups and downs in his emotions

APPLICATION:

1. Make God your savior or He will be your judge

2. Jeremiah is not alone (remember Job as well as Elijah at Mt Carmel to Mt Sinai)

3. "Spiritual Depression" by Martin Lloyd Jones became the assistant pastor to G Cambell Morgan. He was a medical doctor who became a pastor.

4. Two spiritual flaws

a. If I am saved then all my problems will be solved

b. If I feel down or depressed then I must not be spiritual

5. What brought Jeremiah back from these emotions? Notice verse 9 & 11 Word of God and the Presence of God

a. Replace your thoughts with God's truth

b. Spend time with God in prayer

MEMORY VERSE - Jeremiah 18:11

¹¹“Now therefore, speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Behold, I am fashioning a disaster and devising a plan against you. Return now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.