Jeremiah 18
-Now God instructs Jeremiah to go
down to the potter’s house where He will announce His words to the prophet.
Jeremiah goes down to place God commanded and saw something being made on the
wheel, but the vessel that was being made was spoiled in the hand of the
potter. The potter remade it into another vessel as it pleased him, which was
significant in God’s word to His prophet and people: “Can I not, O house of
Israel, deal with you as this potter does? Behold, like the clay in the
potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel. At one moment I might
speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to uproot, to pull down, or to
destroy it; if that nation against which I have spoken turns from its evil, I
will relent concerning the calamity I planned to bring on it. Or at another
moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to build up or
to plant it; if it does evil in My sight by not obeying My voice, then I will
think better of the good with which I had promised to bless it (Jeremiah 18:1-10).”
God was telling Jeremiah that He was going to fashion calamity against Israel
unless they turned back from their evil ways and reformed their ways and deeds
(Jeremiah 18:11). God also predicated in His omniscience their response. They
will say, “It’s hopeless! For we are going to follow our own plans, and each of
us will act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart (Jeremiah 18:12).
In the LORD’s sight this is appalling because His people have forgotten Him and
burned incense to worthless gods stumbling in their ways from the ancient paths
of truth (Jeremiah 18:13-15). Therefore, the land will now become a desolation
and object of disgrace. They will be scattered like the force of an east wind
in the region. God will show them His back and not His face when they call for
Him in their calamity (Jeremiah 18:16-17). *Application* God’s knowledge far
exceeds ours. He knows the very essence of our heart and what our true agenda
is. He cannot be fooled or outdone by anyone or anything. Allow your Maker to
mold you as good clay into the vessel He desires and don’t resist (Isaiah 45:9;
64:8). He is good! Believe it and receive it. Don’t turn your own way.
-The horror of the people’s indignation now comes
upon the prophet. They devise to strike at him with their tongue (talk
negatively about him and denounce his word from God, rejection of his message).
They decide that they will not take heed to what he says and actually dig a pit
to put him in. They have deadly designs for the prophet of the LORD. Jeremiah
cries out to the LORD because he had sought good on their behalf, but was
truthful in what God gave him as a Word. As a result, Jeremiah now prays imprecatory
prayers that they will be destroyed and overthrown by famine, the sword, and
raiders (Jeremiah 18:19-23). Again we see the theme of the knowledge of God in
each and every situation. He knows their every device and has given His wrath
because of their corruption. *Application* Come clean before God because He
knows you inside and out. Do you think evil of those who may be trying to
correct you under the guidance of the Almighty? Be careful when you rebel
against those who are prophetic and have heard from the LORD regarding you.
This is pride and can cause God’s anger and wrath to be upon you just like He
was against Israel during that time period. Repent and receive correction and
Godly instruction. Have a humble heart.
Verse to Memorize: Jeremiah 18:8
No comments:
Post a Comment