Jeremiah at the Potter's House

A word came to Jeremiah from Yahweh. He was told to go down to the potter’s house, and there Yahweh would let him hear his words. So Jeremiah went down and saw the potter working at the wheels.

While the potter was shaping a vessel from clay, it was marred in his hand. The potter made it again into another vessel, making what seemed good to him. Then Yahweh’s word came to Jeremiah to explain the sign.

Yahweh said the house of Israel was like clay in a potter’s hand. He can speak about a nation or kingdom to pull it down, but if that nation turns from evil, he may relent from the disaster he had announced. He can also speak of building up a nation, yet if it does evil and does not obey, he may withhold the good he said he would do.

Then Jeremiah was told to speak to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. Yahweh was framing disaster against them and calling each one to turn from an evil way and amend their ways and deeds. But they answered that it was useless, because they would keep following their own plans and the stubbornness of their evil hearts.

Yahweh said Israel had done a horrible thing. His people had forgotten him and burned incense to false gods. They had left the ancient paths for byways, a road not built up. Their land would become an astonishment, and people passing by would shake their heads. Yahweh said he would scatter them before the enemy in the day of their calamity. Will we turn back when God warns us?