Friday 26 February 2016
- Bible Book:
- Jeremiah
“Can I not do with you, O house of Israel, just as this potter has done? says the Lord. Just like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.” (v. 6)
Psalm: Psalm 49
Background
The account of Jeremiah's visit to the potter's house isprobably one of the better known parts of his story. This everydayscene became, for the prophet, an analogy of the relationshipbetween God and the people. It is clear from the opening fourverses that the potter is able to shape the clay in the way hewishes. This point is then taken up into the other two verses ofthe passage in relation to God and the house of Israel.
One of the difficulties with analogies is that we need to becareful how far we push them. Verse 4, for example, says that thevessel was spoiled in the potter's hand: was that due to a lack ofskill or was it because of something wrong with the clay? Theimplication is that the prophet thinks it is the latter. The versesthat follow today's passage (verses 7-11) depict God bothdestroying and restoring nations, in particular, Judah (verse 11);they are reshaped by God in order to fulfil the divine purpose.
To Ponder
- Do you find the analogy in today's passage helpful? Why?
- Singers of Daniel Iverson's song '