Debbie and I had taken a day of rest, actually two days … earlier this year, the week of July 4th actually. It was there, in the mountains of Tennessee, we saw this young potter.

Today’s Lesson …

Isaiah uses the metaphor, “God the Potter.”

So did Jeremiah.

Zechariah the Prophet as well.

And certainly Paul!

Furthermore, we must include the Book of Revelation, John on the Isle of Patmos.

Then the Psalmist who gave us Psalm 2 clearly knew about the potter.

In fact, when God created Adam out of “the dust of the ground,” He may have been illustrating the splendid art of the potter! See Genesis 2:7.

Then, we Christians are surely “in His Hands!”

Now, more specifically …

Isaiah 41:25 uses the “potter treading the clay” as a symbol of coming judgment!

Later, in Isaiah 64:8, the emphasis is on prayer! “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.”

Jeremiah 18:4 highlights the “quality” of the clay. “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.” (Oh, to be soft, manageable “clay” in our Lord’s Hands!)

According to Jeremiah 18:6 the Potter OWNS the clay! “O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.” We New Testament Believers too have been “bought with a price,” the Blood of Jesus.

And Lamentations 4:2 has “gold” becoming “dirt, clay” because of the devastating wages of sin! “The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!” Sad indeed!

Paul, in Romans 9:21, has God the Potter making different kinds of clay vessels! God’s omnipotence and omniscience being the focus. “Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?”

And Revelation 2:27, loosely quoting Psalm 2:9, pictures judgment again as a motif for the potter. “And he (our Lord Jesus) shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.” Rebellion will be vanquished, some day!

It’s amazing the (Bible) lessons conveyed by the simple image of a potter, busily engaged in various aspects of His Work!

Today, my friends, are we all “yielding” to Jesus’ Control, to His Touch?

If so, He could make us (quoting Paul again) into “vessels of honor,” for HIS ULTIMATE GLORY!

Amen.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell