Jeremiah Chapter 18
1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
2 "Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause you to hear my words."
3 Then I went down to the potter's house, and behold, he was making something on the wheels.
4 When the vessel that he made of the clay was marred in the hand of the potter, he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
5 Then the LORD's word came to me, saying,
6 "House of Israel, can't I do with you as this potter?" says the LORD. "Behold, as the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, house of Israel.
7 At the instant I speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up and to break down and to destroy it;
8 if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do to them.
9 At the instant I speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;
10 if they do that which is evil in my sight, that they not obey my voice, then I will repent of the good with which I said I would benefit them.
11 "Now therefore, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, 'The LORD says: "Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a plan against you. Everyone return from his evil way now, and amend your ways and your doings." '
12 But they say, 'It is in vain; for we will walk after our own plans, and we will each follow the stubbornness of his evil heart.' "
13 Therefore the LORD says: "Ask now amongst the nations, 'Who has heard such things?' The virgin of Israel has done a very horrible thing.
14 Will the snow of Lebanon fail from the rock of the field? Will the cold waters that flow down from afar be dried up?
15 For my people have forgotten me. They have burnt incense to false gods. They have been made to stumble in their ways, in the ancient paths, to walk in byways, in a way not built up,
16 to make their land an astonishment, and a perpetual hissing. Everyone who passes by it will be astonished, and shake his head.
17 I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy. I will show them the back, and not the face, in the day of their calamity.
18 Then they said, "Come! Let's devise plans against Jeremiah; for the law won't perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let's strike him with the tongue, and let's not give heed to any of his words."
19 Give heed to me, LORD, and listen to the voice of those who contend with me.
20 Should evil be recompensed for good? For they have dug a pit for my soul. Remember how I stood before you to speak good for them, to turn away your wrath from them.
21 Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and give them over to the power of the sword. Let their wives become childless and widows. Let their men be killed and their young men struck by the sword in battle.
22 Let a cry be heard from their houses when you bring a troop suddenly on them; for they have dug a pit to take me and hidden snares for my feet.
23 Yet, LORD, you know all their counsel against me to kill me. Don't forgive their iniquity. Don't blot out their sin from your sight, Let them be overthrown before you. Deal with them in the time of your anger.
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Jeremiah Chapter 18 Guide
We now come to the second series of messages before the fall of Jerusalem (chs. 18-20), which consists of declarations of God's absolute supremacy. In preparation for this, Jeremiah was sent to the house of the potter. There he saw him at work on the wheels. Power was manifest in his manipulation of the clay, and pity in his remaking of the marred vessel.
The explanation was given to him by Jehovah Himself. The house of Israel was as clay in Jehovah's hand. All His will must be accomplished, and the people could not possibly escape His hand. This message Jeremiah was charged to deliver to the men of Judah, but they persisted in evil, and Jehovah declared their sin to be incomparable. The nations might be challenged, but they could produce nothing like it. What, then, remained but that judgment must fall?
The delivery of this message stirred up new opposition to Jeremiah, and a conspiracy was formed against his life. In resentment, he poured out his soul to Jehovah. He had pleaded their cause, and this was the return they made. Therefore it was surely in accord with the necessity of the case that they should be punished, and he appealed to Jehovah to deal with them in the time of His anger.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
Jeremiah Chapter 18 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- God's power over his creatures is represented by the potter. -- (1-10)
- The Jews exhorted to repentance, and judgments foretold. -- (11-17)
- The prophet appeals to God. -- (18-23)
Verses 1-10
While Jeremiah looks upon the potter's work, God darts into his mind two great truths. God has authority, and power, to form and fashion kingdoms and nations as he pleases. He may dispose of us as he thinks fit; and it would be as absurd for us to dispute this, as for the clay to quarrel with the potter. But he always goes by fixed rules of justice and goodness. When God is coming against us in judgments, we may be sure it is for our sins; but sincere conversion from the evil of sin will prevent the evil of punishment, as to persons, and to families, and nations.
Verses 11-17
Sinners call it liberty to live at large; whereas for a man to be a slave to his lusts, is the very worst slavery. They forsook God for idols. When men are parched with heat, and meet with cooling, refreshing streams, they use them. In these things men will not leave a certainty for an uncertainty; but Israel left the ancient paths appointed by the Divine law. They walked not in the highway, in which they might travel safely, but in a way in which they must stumble: such was the way of idolatry, and such is the way of iniquity. This made their land desolate, and themselves miserable. Calamities may be borne, if God smile upon us when under them; but if he is displeased, and refuses his help, we are undone. Multitudes forget the Lord and his Christ, and wander from the ancient paths, to walk in ways of their own devising. But what will they do in the day of judgment!
Verses 18-23
When the prophet called to repentance, instead of obeying the call, the people devised devices against him. Thus do sinners deal with the great Intercessor, crucifying him afresh, and speaking against him on earth, while his blood is speaking for them in heaven. But the prophet had done his duty to them; and the same will be our rejoicing in a day of evil.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.