| The Christian Life | May 1941 |
Down to the Potter’s House
“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.”—Jeremiah 18:3,4
JEREMIAH was bidden of the Lord to go down to the potter’s house, saying, “There I will cause thee to hear My words.” As Jeremiah watched the potter work he saw him start to, shape a vessel and then, because of a flaw that developed, the potter remade the clay into a different shaped vessel. After Jeremiah saw what had occurred the Lord then asked him if it were not right that He should do the same. The Lord explained, “Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in Mine hand, O house of Israel.” An important point to be noticed in this lesson is that the Lord does not deal with individuals and nations arbitrarily. While the lesson clearly shows that the Lord reserves the right to withhold blessings and to administer punishments, yet that what He decides to do is based upon the obedience or disobedience of those involved. This is clearly shown in verses 7 to 10 of the chapter.
This throws interesting light upon the apostle’s words in Romans 9:21, where, in describing God’s dealings with the Jews, he says, “Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor?” It is important to keep the background of this lesson in mind, otherwise we might get the erroneous idea, as some have, that human beings are under the control of a divine law which arbitrarily governs all that they do. This would mean, if true, that man has no free moral agency, However, when we study the entire lesson of Jeremiah 18, we find the Lord making it very plain that it is the attitude of the individuals involved that determines whether or not they turn out to be vessels of honor or of dishonor.
VESSELS OF HONOR
Potters’ vessels are used a number of times in the Scriptures to represent certain characteristics in connection with the professed people of God. There is to this day, travelers tell us, a certain type of potters’ vessel, which is called a “vessel of honor.” The vessel of honor is one that holds about five gallons. It has two handles and is beautifully shaped. Whether in the peasant’s home or while being carried to and from the fountain of water, the chief characteristic of the vessel of honor is the fact that from it is dispensed pure water to quench the thirst of the stranger and the weary traveler. If a stranger sees one carrying a vessel of honor filled with clean, refreshing water, he feels free to ask for a drink. The chief mission of a vessel of honor is giving free water to passers by. It is nothing but an earthen vessel, but nevertheless, it is a vessel of honor and so named because of its giving out of nature, the very essentials of life.
Not only while being carried, but even when in the peasant’s home, the vessel of honor occupies this position of favor. Travelers explain that as one enters the home of a peasant, that hack of the door is found a bench about four feet high, with three holes in it. This is the water jar or vessel stand. It is called “the holder of jars.” Here are to be found two large jars, each holding four or five gallons, and beside them a small drinking vessel. The peasant offers you the small drinking vessel as you enter the house. You will be invited to fill it to the brim from the first jar, which is the vessel of honor.
VESSELS OF DISHONOR
Next to the vessel of honor in the peasant’s home is another vessel. In appearance it is very similar to the vessel of honor, but actually it is looked upon by the peasant as being of quite a different nature. This is the vessel of dishonor. This vessel remains at home. It is not used to dispense the pure fresh water as is the vessel of honor, but is the receptacle for stale water. After a time the inside becomes slimy and the water ill-smelling, and there is now no pleasure in it, either to the potter or to the owner. It is finally placed in the back yard as a receptacle for waste things; and when this occurs, it is called an “abominable” vessel. The interesting point about these two vessels is that when they are made by the potter, there is very little difference in them. What actually determines that one is a vessel of honor and the other of dishonor is the use that is made of them.
There is a very important lesson here for each follower of the Master. Are we striving to be vessels of honor? If so, we will endeavor to exercise that giving-out quality which was characteristic of the potter’s vessel of honor. Surely there is no higher honor that can be bestowed upon anyone than the privilege of being a dispenser of divine blessings.
In Romans 9:23, the apostle speaks of vessels of mercy. It is said by travelers in the East that in villages where there is no public water supply, the villagers provide small vessels of water for the traveler. These are for use particularly for washing purposes, and, of course, the object is to be helpful thus to others. These are called “vessels of mercy.”
“VESSELS OF WRATH”
In Romans 9:22, we read, “What if God, willing to show His wrath, and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction.” It is very interesting to note the circumstances associated with what the potter finally decides is to become a vessel of wrath, fit only to be destroyed. After the potter shapes his vessels from the soft clay, they are put into an oven, or furnace, to be baked. Some of these vessels are cracked when they are taken out of the baking furnace. However, the potter does not at once decide that these vessels cannot be used. Rather, he uses a certain kind of cement, prepared by mixing the blood of a small insect called the fasuka which lives on the body of a bull, with some of the clay he uses in making the vessels.
With this cement he carefully seals up the cracks in the vessels. Then he puts the cemented vessels into the furnace again. The second time they may come out all right, or they may be broken again. However the potter is usually very patient and goes through this cementing operation several times, if necessary, before he finally is obliged to lay a vessel aside as being of no value. These vessels which he thus finds impossible to salvage are designated “vessels of wrath.” How wonderfully well, then, do these vessels represent those whom the Lord decides are worthy only of the second death. It reminds us of how patient the Lord is with all, giving them opportunity after opportunity to show their appreciation of His blessings and to be faithful to Him. Finally, however, the decision is reached by the Lord and when this is true, those who have proven themselves unworthy are, like the potter’s vessel, fit only for destruction.
CHOSEN VESSELS
When Ananias was reluctant to visit Saul of Tarsus after his conversion, the Lord said to him, “Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto Me, to hear My name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.” (Acts 9:15) Here again we find the Lord using expressions which would be familiar to those of the time in which they were spoken. It is still the custom in the East, we are told, when one desires a vessel of special value and dependability, to allow the potter himself to make the choice. From his own knowledge of the various vessels he has made, he will choose one and say to the purchaser something like this, “I will never be ashamed to send this vessel to any part of the world, for I have chosen it and I know it will never put me to shame. It is a chosen vessel. It may look the same to you as the other vessels, and though it may not seem very attractive, yet it will stand the test. It is a chosen vessel.”
From this we see that Lord’s designation of Paul as being a “chosen vessel,” was based upon the sterling qualities which He knew the apostle possessed. It was not an arbitrary choice, irrespective of the qualifications necessary for the great service of God he was called to perform. This same principle of divine choice holds good with respect to God’s dealings with all of His people. He sets the members in the Body as it pleaseth Him. His selections are made, however, upon the basis of merit and qualifications. It is also true that no one will be chosen for membership in the Body, except as the Divine Potter is able to see in him the necessary qualifications of faithfulness and loyalty.
An inexperienced purchaser of vessels may look over many different ones and be unable to see much, if any, difference in their quality. But the potter who is acquainted with materials and workmanship is able to select those vessels which are really of fine and enduring quality. So it is in the selection of all the various vessels which the Lord is now preparing for future use in the Kingdom. Human wisdom may not be able to see the difference between the qualified and unqualified. But the Divine Potter, who is able to read the heart, is able to base His judgment not upon external appearances, but upon the genuine inward qualifications of each one, hence makes the selection and sets each member in the position in His arrangement for which he is best qualified.
“MEET FOR THE MASTER’S USE”
In Paul’s second letter to Timothy, chapter 2, verses 20 and 21, we have another reference to the pictorial significance of the potter’s vessel. Here again we are reminded that some of these vessels are used as vessels of honor and others of dishonor. Paul applies this to the experiences of the Lord’s people and indicates that the factor which determines whether we are vessels of honor or dishonor is our attitude toward the Lord and His truth. Paul says, “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the Master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”
Evidently the Lord does not wish us to get the lesson from the potter’s use of the clay that there is nothing for us to do but to yield to the divine molding processes. In the text just quoted, Paul says, “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the Master’s use.” Yes, there is something for us to do, and in the doing of which we will help to determine whether or not we turn out to be vessels of honor or of dishonor. Going back to verse 15 of this chapter we find Paul admonishing Timothy, saying: “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker; of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.”
Thus the apostle shows the important responsibility that is ours of not only studying that we may show, ourselves approved unto God, but in order that when we work for Him, our efforts will be such as redound to His glory. If we, as vessels of honor, are to be prepared unto every good work, it means that we will endeavor to rightly divide the Word of truth so that when we speak for the Lord, our message will not be such as will eat like a canker and destroy the faith of some.
Not only are we, as vessels of honor, to purge ourselves from those things which are out of harmony with God’s Word of truth, but we must follow, as the apostle shows, “righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” We are not to be like the vessels of dishonor which are filled with stale, impure water, but are to be clean vessels, filled with the pure and living waters of God’s precious truth and ever ready to give out this truth for the refreshment and blessing of others.
The more we study the lesson of the potter and the clay as it is introduced in our text, the more it becomes apparent that the lesson is not the lack of responsibility on the part of the clay, but rather of God’s right to deal with individuals, based upon their degree of faithfulness to Him. It is true, of course, that we, as Christians, should yield ourselves to the influences of God’s holy Spirit. We should humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God. We should not rebel against His providences.
Nevertheless, the Christian life is much more than merely that of a passive acquiescence in the divine will. It includes aggressive efforts on our part to do that which the Lord outlines as His will for us. It means that we are not only to yield ourselves in obedience, but to actively engage in the work of purging ourselves and of setting ourselves apart, to be used of the Lord as vessels of honor. Yes, we are clay in the Potter’s hand. The matter of our being of the Lord’s chosen vessels of honor depends upon our own faithfulness, our own obedience, our own yielding to and fulfilling the will of God, so far as we possibly can, in our every thought, word and deed.