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Jeremiah 18

23 verses

TL;DR

Jeremiah’s visit to a potter’s workshop becomes a metaphor for God’s sovereign control over Israel’s fate, warning of judgment but offering repentance if hearts change.

Summary

Jeremiah is instructed by the LORD to visit the potter's house as a symbolic demonstration. The potter shapes a clay vessel, discarding it when flawed, then reshapes it into something better. The LORD declares that He too can mould Israel as the potter moulds clay, promising judgment if they persist in sin. Yet He also offers mercy: if Israel turns from evil, He will abandon His intended punishment. The people of Judah and Jerusalem respond with defiance, refusing to repent. The passage ends with Jeremiah’s plea for God to confront the enemies who conspire against him, and a stark depiction of impending disaster for the nation.

Outline
  1. Jeremiah’s commission and observation of the potter’s work
  2. God’s analogy of Israel as clay and the promise of judgment or mercy
  3. Israel’s rejection of repentance and Jeremiah’s lament against hostile opposition
Themes
Divine sovereigntyJudgment and mercyHuman rebellion
Keywords
potterclayIsraelJudahJerusalemsinrepentancejudgmentmercysword
People
JeremiahIsraelJudahJerusalemHeathen
Places
Potter’s houseJudahJerusalemLebanonthe fieldeast wind
Things
potterclay vesselincenseswordwind
Key Verses
  • Jeremiah 18:4: Illustrates the potter’s willingness to discard a flawed vessel to create something better.
  • Jeremiah 18:6: Shows the LORD’s comparison of Israel’s malleability to clay in His hand.
  • Jeremiah 18:8: Highlights the possibility of God changing His judgment if Israel repents.
  • Jeremiah 18:12: Depicts Israel’s defiant refusal to turn away from evil.
  • Jeremiah 18:21: Captures Jeremiah’s plea for divine intervention against those who plot against him and the impending judgment.
Questions
  • What does the potter’s action symbolize about God’s relationship with Israel?
  • How does Jeremiah portray the possibility of changing judgment?
  • Why do the people reject repentance?
  • In what way does Jeremiah’s lament reflect the prophet’s struggle?
  • How does the imagery of wind and sword convey impending judgment?
Sentiment

mixed
The passage juxtaposes threat of judgment with offer of mercy, but ultimately expresses sorrow over Israel's defiance.