Another lesson from the potter’s house

Jeremiah #30: Another lesson from the potter’s house       Jer 19:1-15

This message involves another connection to the potter’s work, v1. He uses an earthen vessel as an illustration in his message. The focus of his message is on the irrecoverable destruction of the clay bottle. The power of God to mar the vessel is seen again, only with added force and vigour.

I  THE NATURE OF JEREMIAH’S MINISTRY ILLUSTRATED AGAIN.

It is instructive to consider the example of faithful servants of God, seeing how they went about their service of God. It is especially important to note how God Himself directed these acts of service.

1. He spoke to those in authority. It was his purpose, at the command of God, to endeavor to influence those in spiritual and political authority. It is clear that representatives of the royal house are included, v3. The message that he preached was of such a nature as to claim superiority over all earthly powers!
2. He declares the word of God, v3. Biblical preaching is the declaration of the very word of God Himself. Cp 2Tim 4:1-4
3. An impressive backdrop, v2. This valley is a very significant place. It was a place central to the idolatry of the day. It is referred to here by a number of names, v6. Tophet > ‘to beat, treat with contempt’. It is to be known also as the place of slaughter. Its name is one used by the Saviour to refer to hell itself, Matt 10:28 (12 times in NT).
4. He employs a dramatic device, v11. His preaching is illustrated in a dramatic fashion as he breaks the clay bottle. Perhaps he breaks it at their feet, or perhaps he drops it over the precipice into the valley below. Such theatrical devices were frequently employed by the OT prophets.
5. He preaches to the populace, v14-15. His message is not merely for the leaders of the day. At God’s command—Thus saith the Lord infers such a command—he speaks to all the people in the precincts of the Temple.

II  THEIR SIN IS EXPOSED AND THREATENED WITH JUDGMENT.

1. The crimes they were guilty of, v4-5. This is the reason for the wrath of God falling. N.b. because, v4, 13, 15; therefore, v6. All of these specific sins are summarized, v15.
2. A declaration of wrath. Cp v3, 6-15. The bulk of the chapter is given over to a statement of what God is going to bring upon them.
3. Ear tingling trouble. Cpv8, …all the evil, v15.
4. Slaughter, v6-7, 9. They would perish at the hands of their enemies by sword and famine. Some aspects of this suffering and death are truly horrific. Cp Deut 28:45-48, 53-58.
5. Broken, v11. Cp Is 30:14. There can be no doubt that the added thought of it being irrecoverable is now added to the picture of the previous chapter.

III   JEREMIAH PREACHED A MESSAGE THAT FLATLY CONTRADICTED ‘THE COUNSEL OF THIS PLACE’.

Cp v7.

1. This valley was a seat of idolatrous worship. That religion involved a message/philosophy/practice that was in opposition to God’s truth. It was alternative counsel, a different plan, other wisdom. There is a conflict/battle here between the message of Jeremiah and that advocated by those promoting idolatry. That conflict exists today! Cp 2Cor 11:4, Gal 1:8-9.
2. God would make it void. Here is a term that means ‘empty’ – an onomatopoeic word sounding like an empty vessel. We might make a connection between this word and the sound of the clay vessel breaking! Jeremiah’s hearers needed to know now that the false message of idolatry, to which they were entrusting themselves, would fail them and be proved empty at the last. How empty is the message that promises safety and yet brings men down to Gehenna/hell! Cp 2Pet 2:18-19