Jeremiah 18:1-12

 Background: The potter's wheel

https://iangreig.wordpress.com/2015/09/04/from-failure-to-fruitfulness-1-jeremiah-at-the-potters-house/

(NET) At his wheel (Heb “at the two stones”). The Hebrew expression is very descriptive of the construction of a potter’s wheel which consisted of two stones joined by a horizontal shaft. The potter rotated the wheel with his feet on the lower wheel and worked the clay with his hands on the upper. For a picture of a potter working at his wheel see I. Ben-Dor, “Potter’s Wheel,” IDB 3:846. See also the discussion regarding the making of pottery in J. L. Kelso, “Pottery,” IDB 3:846–53.

Ob and In:

What is/are the similarity between the potter/clay and the Lord/Israel 

1. v.6b O nation of Israel, can I not deal with you as this potter deals with the clay? In my hands, you, O nation of Israel, are just like the clay in this potter’s hand

The potter was the One molding the clay with his hands v.4, God is the One who could deal with Israel in His hand v.6. That means when the potter see there would be something with the pot he would rework the clay as he saw fit v.4

(NET) Something was wrong with the clay—either there was a lump in it, or it was too moist or not moist enough, or it had some other imperfection. In any case the vessel was “ruined” or “spoiled” or defective in the eyes of the potter. This same verb has been used of the linen shorts that were “ruined” and hence were “good for nothing” in Jer 13:7. The nature of the clay and how it responded to the potter’s hand determined the kind of vessel that he made of it. He did not throw the clay away. This is the basis for the application in vv. 7–10 to any nation and to the nation of Israel in particular vv. 10–17.

Summary: God is able to deal with Israel. He has the authority and the ability.

b. Repeated word: make/do/work/mold

v.3 Jeremiah found the potter working at his wheel

v.4 there would be sth wrong with the pot he was molding from the clay...so he would rework (turn and make) the clay into another kind of pot as he saw fit (as that was right in the eyes of the potter to make). 

v.6 Can I not deal with you  as this potter...?

v.8 But if that nation...stops doing wrong, I will cancel the destruction I intended to do to it. 

v.10 But if that nation does what displeases me..

Up to here, except v.10, the word, "work/make/deal" was mostly used by God. He is the One who is like the potter and He is in charge. In v.12, there was a dramatic change.

v.12 We will continue to behave wickedly and stubbornly

Reflection: The answer from the Israel not only reflect their stubbornness and not taking the offer from God to repent, but also they used the word that the Potter-God used. They thought they were the potter of themselves. Am I like that? Is this the trademark of stubbornness?