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"At The Potter's House "
Jeremiah 18-19

Wednesday AM Bible Study
December 22, 2004

This is one of the best-known sections in the book of Jeremiah. In it, God communicates to His people through parables based on the work of the potter. His purpose is (1) to let His sinning people know that He is ready to forgive them if they will repent, and (2) to let them know that there is a point of the hardening of the heart at which punishment becomes unavoidable.

I. THE PARABLE OF THE POTTER AND THE CLAY (18:1-23).

A. This parable is based at the potter's house. It's first purpose is to show that God is sovereign. There are many times that God is compared with a potter; and in each case, the intention is to show God's sovereignty over the peoples and the nations (Isa. 29:16; 45:9; 64:8; Romans 9:19-24). It's second purpose is to show that, God refuses to work with impurity or sin in His people. Third, it teaches us that, if a people will repent of their sin, He will use them; but if they will not repent, He must remake them (vv. 1-11).

B. The response of the people revealed an unwillingness to change - as if it were too late. But God's response is to show that they are rejecting what is good for them (vv. 12-17).

C. The true heart of the people is shown in that they now turn on Jeremiah in violence. His response is to pray that God would bring upon them the consequences of their rebellion (vv. 18-23).

II. THE PARABLE OF THE BROKEN FLASK (19:1-15).

The purpose of this parable is the opposite of the first. The first taught that there was still time and that God would relent of His judgment if the people would repent. But given their response, this parable shows that there is now no turning back, and that their condition is irreparable.

A. He promises judgment at the sight of the Valley of the Son of Hinnom - the very sight where human sacrifices had occurred (2 Kings 23:10).

B. He explains the nature of their sin; thus forcing Him to change the name of the place to "The Valley of Slaughter" because of the judgment that was to come (vv. 4-9).

C. He calls Jeremiah to break the flask in front of everyone to show that God was going to now break the city (vv. 10-15).

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