Lessons from the Potter’s House

Introduction:  In this passage Jeremiah is instructed to go down to the potter’s house and hear the words of the Lord.  We do not find in the passage that Jeremiah carried on any kind of conversation with the potter, but that he merely watched him work.  The Lord wanted Jeremiah to see the work of the potter with the clay, for if he understood this, he would understand much of the work of the Lord with His people.

1. THE PREPARATION OF THE CLAY
1. A Trip to the Potters Field (Matthew 27:7)
2. The Digging of the Clay
1. The clay is removed from the earth by the potter.
2. The clay is removed with a purpose in mind.
3. The Treading of the Clay (Isaiah 41:25)
1. Once the clay is broken up from the rest of the ground it is then tread upon.
2. The treading upon the clay is done to soften the hardness of the clay for the best results upon the wheel.
2. THE MOLDING OF THE CLAY
1. The Usable Clay
1. The only clay that makes it to the wheel is that clay that has already been softened by the potter.
2. The clay that makes it to the wheel is clay that has potential to make a great vessel.
2. The Moistening of the Clay
1. While on the wheel the clay can become dry.
2. The potter employs the use of water to keep the clay pliable.
3. The Shaping of the Clay
1. The shape and purpose of the clay is according to the will of the potter.
2. The clay is not to resist the will of the potter (Romans 9:20).
3. The clay may reveal some imperfections and need to be reformed (Jeremiah 18:4).
3. THE STRENGTHENING OF THE CLAY
1. The Removal of the Clay from the Wheel
2. The Burning of the Clay (Nahum 3:14)
4. THE PURPOSE OF THE CLAY
1. The Usefulness of the Clay (2 Timothy 2:21)
1. The clay was formed with a purpose in mind.
2. Vessels in the Bible were often times for the purpose of a container.
2. The Praise of the Clay
1. The clay cannot boast of its own merits.
2. Any good thing accomplished with the clay is for the praise of the potter (Isaiah 64:8)
3. The Frailty of the Clay
1. Even the formed vessel was very frail and prone to break.
2. Sometimes the damage done to a vessel was irreparable (Jeremiah 19:11)

Conclusion:  Where do you fit in?  Are you on the wheel?  Are you willing to allow the potter complete control?  Are you going through the furnace?  Are you being used as a vessel?