The Potters Clay

The Potter’s Clay

Jeremiah 18:1-10

The Bible’s explanation in pictures – plants, natural world, etc

God is spirit but described as our heavenly Father
The Christian’s necessary spiritual weapons described as a soldier’s armor
Spiritual growth compared to growth of a plant from seed to baring fruit

HAVE THINE OWN WAY, LORD - Adelaide A. Pollard, 1862–1934

An elderly woman at a prayer meeting one night pleaded, “It really doesn’t matter what you do with us, Lord, just have your way with our lives.” At this meeting was Adelaide Pollard, a rather well-known itinerant Bible teacher who was deeply discouraged because she had been unable to raise the necessary funds for a desired trip to Africa to do missionary service. She was moved by the older woman’s sincere and dedicated request of God.
At home that evening Miss Pollard meditated on Jeremiah 18:3, 4:
Then I went down to the potter’s house, and behold, he wrought a work on the wheels, and the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
Before retiring that evening, Adelaide Pollard completed the writing of all four stanzas of this hymn as it is sung today. The hymn first appeared in published form in 1907.
Often into our lives come discouragements and heartaches that we cannot understand. As children of God, however, we must learn never to question the ways of our sovereign God—but simply to say:

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Thou art the potter, I am the clay. Mold me and make me after Thy will, while I am waiting, yielded and still.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Search me and try me, Master, today! Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now, as in Thy presence humbly I bow.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Wounded and weary, help me, I pray! Power, all power, surely is Thine! Touch me and heal me, Savior divine!
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Hold o’er my being absolute sway! Fill with Thy Spirit till all shall see Christ only, always, living in me!

ILL: Joshua’s pottery experience.
The potter’s art has been practiced from very ancient times. Egyptian monuments show that it was known in Egypt before the Hebrews moved into that country. Some expositors have inferred from Psalm 81:6 that the Israelites were used in pottery as well as brick making while they were in bondage: He says, “6 I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the pots.”

The clay was first trodden with the feet by the potter (Isaiah 41:25 I have raised up one from the north, and he shall come: from the rising of the sun shall he call upon my name: and he shall come upon princes as upon morter, and as the potter treadeth clay.), and when it was the proper consistency he put it on the wheels. There were usually two stone wheels, one above the other, like a pair of millstones. The softened clay was put upon the upper wheel and fashioned by the potter’s hands. On some of the devices the lower stone was immovable, and the upper revolved on an axis that was turned by the potter by means of a treadle and sometimes by an attendant. On other devices the lower stone was larger and was turned by the potter’s feet; as it turned it rotated the upper wheel where the clay was worked. In later times the wheels were made of wood, which made them lighter and easier to turn.

Jeremiah 18:1-10
We Must be Moldable for the Lord

I. Consider the Condition of the Clay

a. It is a creation of the Creator

i. Isa 64:8 But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

ii. Isa 45: 9 Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?

b. It is to be soft, pliable, pure

i. Too hard, cannot be molded

ii. Too much impurities, cannot be properly shaped

1. Verse 4 indicates that the vessel was “marred” this shows the clay resisted the forming of the potter. Was possible reworked to the point of “treading” on it again to work out the impurity that caused the resistance.

iii. Potter must have complete control over the clay –

1. Romans 9:20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? 21 † Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

II. Consider the Compassion of the Potter

a. Removes/ cleanses the impurity from the clay

i. ‘marred’ to detract from the perfection or wholeness of : spoil

ii. Potter does not allow the vessel to continue to be marred

b. Remolds it into a NEW vessel – doesn’t discard it

i. God gives second chances, and thirds and fourths and …

ii. Lamentations 3:22-24 - 22 It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. 24 The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

III. Consider the Consistency of the Potter

a. Potter’s tools – simple, basic tools

i. Feet & hands to refine

ii. Tender, but firm hands to mold and shape

iii. Spinning wheel – speed of which is controlled by the potter

iv. Damp sponge and small stick to polish and shape

b. Jugdement and Discipline is promised for the wayward creation

i. God is always good, fair, loving, benevolent

c. Blessing is also promised for those that follow God.

i. James 1:12; 17

1. 12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

2. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.