My mind has been caught up with the imagery contained in the following scripture from Jeremiah 18. The scripture tells us that Jeremiah was invited by the Lord to go down to the potter’s house, and he would be given a message. So, Jeremiah went to the house and saw the potter working at the potter’s wheel He saw the potter with a lump of wet clay in his hands and as the potter worked and moulded it, he formed it into a vessel that in Jeremiah’s opinion was good. The scripture then goes on: “Then the word of the Lord came to me: Can I not do with you, O house of Israel, just as this potter has done says the Lord? Just like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.” (Jeremiah 18:5, 6)
Pottery is one of the most widespread of the decorative arts, consisting of clay and hardened with heat. The oldest known pottery dates to about 10,000 years ago. Pottery originated due to the needs of people. And so, I am not surprised that a number of the Old Testament writers used it as an example of how we should be living our lives.
Making pottery takes time and patience. A piece of pottery starts as a lump of clay and is fashioned into the finished piece. There are various stages to making a piece of pottery. The potter takes a lump of clay and kneads it into a ball like bread dough. He then places it on the wheel and sets the wheel spinning. He then applies his hands and fingers to the lump of clay to attempt to make something beautiful.
Sometimes the lump of clay is not responsive to the potter’s hands, so he takes the clay and removes any imperfections or impurities that were there. And then he would take the clay and knead it again and again to make it pliable once more. And then he would set it again on the wheel and spin and then apply his hands and fingers once more and ultimately would create something useful and beautiful
As I meditated over the work of a potter, I thought of how I have been moulded and formed by people – my parents, my wife Betty and family, people in the congregations I have attended, as well as my work friends. This verse from Lamentations 4:2 follows this line of thinking: “The precious children of Zion, worth their weight in gold – how they are reckoned as earthen pots, the work of a potter’s hands!” You must follow the example of good men and live a righteous life.
What a challenge it is for us to be like a potter and be able to influence the lives of others for good! We can be an example to others by them seeing our good works. Albert Schweitzer once said: “Example is not the main thing in influencing others – it is the only thing.” Benjamin Franklin, a signatory to the Constitution of the United States wrote: “A good example is the best sermon.”
Just as the life and ministry of Jesus has influenced the lives of so many people over two thousand years, so that challenge continues to rest upon our shoulders to be role models for those we associate with, particularly the children and young people.
Bill Gillard