The Potter And The Vessel

by MACDONALD, A. | Category: General | May 1959

At God's bidding Jeremiah was told to "go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear My words" (Jeremiah 18.2). He went down, and "behold, he wrought his work on the wheels." Until a recent visit to Australia I had not seen a potter at work, and from all that I observed it seems that amidst the many improvements of our modern age the art of the potter remains almost the same as it was in the days of Jeremiah. "Behold, he wrought his work on the wheels." As the prophet stood quietly beside the potter he saw him take from the mass of clay that lay beside his hand a piece which he kneaded to rid it of air bubbles - a most important operation. Then he placed it upon the wheel which was rapidly revolving in a horizontal motion. From that moment his hands were at work within and without shaping the clay with his deft touch, here widening and then leading it up into a more slender form; then opening out the lip so that there emerged from the shapeless clay a fair and beautiful vessel fit for exhibition. But in the Jeremiah story, as the vessel was near to completion, it was marred in the hand of the potter, perhaps because of a flaw in the material. The prophet naturally expected the potter immediately to take another piece of clay and produce the ideal which had been so. hopelessly marred in the first operation. Instead of this, however, the potter began again with the same clay to the astonishment of the prophet, and "made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it." Perhaps this second vessel did not seem so fair as the first, but with the application of his skill it became just as beautiful in his hand. Here was not only a vessel of usefulness and beauty but a tribute to the patience of the potter in making something of value with the clay in which there had been disappointment and failure.

In our understanding of the Scriptures we should first find the primary application and then seek to learn the practical application. To Jeremiah and to us comes the message, "Cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay in the potter's hand, so are ye in Mine hand." The primary purpose of this vision seemed to be to bring home to God's people Israel that there was still hope for them if only they would yield themselves to the touch of the Great Potter. Those years of disobedience which had marred His fair purpose and work in His people He would forgive, and He was prepared to make them again into a vessel of honour that would be sanctified for His own use.

These things written aforetime are for our learning. Who is there of us who is not conscious of having marred and resisted the touch of God's moulding hand? and who is there that would not like to be made again" as it seemeth good to the Potter" ? Has it ever occurred to us that with the first man, Adam, the Potter had an ideal before Him? God made Adam of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul. Then God placed man in Eden to obey His commandments, and the Creator looked forward to finding joy in the creature of His hands; but because of sin the work was marred and became one of sorrow. Down through time the vessel has remained marred, but the Potter does not intend it to be always thus. He has revealed to us the ideal He ever had, a vessel of perfection, of whom He said, "In whom is all My delight." It was His Son, holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners, without flaw within or without. Christ was the perfect answer to God's ideal.

In 1 Corinthians 15 the first and last Adam are contrasted, the first being of the earth, earthy, and the second is the Lord from

heaven. The Potter will complete his work with redeemed man in the day of resurrection; they that have been as the earthy, shall be as the heavenly. Another vessel shall be made as seems good to the Potter to make it. "He shall fashion anew the body of our humiliation, that it may be conformed to the body of His glory, according to the working whereby He is able to subject all things unto Himself."

The Architect has conceived the plan of the building to be erected before the spade cleaves the sod. I know not if we shall be permitted to see the transcript of God's original purpose in our lives, but sure I am that our lives have not been what the Potter intended. See Romans 12.1, 2; 1 Peter 1.14-16.

The potter achieves his purpose by means of the wheel and the water. The wheel might suggest to us the revolution of daily circumstances and commonplace tasks. Do we complain about the monotony of our life in private or in the assembly? Let us be patient, for God has an end in view for us, and He is seeking to make something of us in His work now, and for His palace hereafter. This is not done in a day, but is the work of a lifetime. Let us remember that clay will take any shape if it is, moistened with water.

In the making of pottery most is done by the potter's fingers. How delicate their touch! how fine his sensibility! Do we know day by day the delicate touch of God's Spirit in us, both to will and work for God's good pleasure?

The wheel and the hand working together do the work. This is necessary if the desired end is to be effected. Do we sometimes find ourselves in circumstances strange and inexplicable ? Let us be still and refrain from murmuring. Some day we will understand!

"He made it again." Although the Potter does not seem able to make of us what He wishes, shall we not let Him do His next best? He often has to make us again. He had to make Jacob again when He met him at the Jabbok ford. Finding him a supplanter He wrestled until there was no fight left in him, and He changed his name from Jacob (crooked; supplanter) to Israel (prince of God).

What shall be our attitude to the Great Potter? Shall we be like the clay and yield to Him ? Shall each particle say yes "to the wheel, and to the Hand, and to the water as they are used in their proportion by God ? If there is resistance the work will be marred. Let God have His way with us. Do not let us look back regretfully on failure, but seek forgiveness for the past and restoration and re-making by His hand. Even though the clay has received its final shape the baking in the kiln must be endured, and after the colouring has been done it can only be rendered permanent by fire. Oh, that we might be "still and know that I am God."

"Have Thine own way Lord, have Thine own way;

Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.

Mould me and make me after Thy will;

Whilst I am patient, ready and still."

MACDONALD, A. | May 1959
General