135. "Go Down to the Potter's House"
"Go Down to the Potter’s House"
(Jeremiah 18:3-4) "Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels."
Let us look into an Oriental pottery. You will see no machinery or fine buildings, just a plain shed. You see a wheel, and beside it a pile of clay and a dish of water. The potter takes a lump of clay in his hand, places it upon the wheel, which is revolving, and smooths it into a low cone; then, thrusting his thumb into the top of the cone, he opens a hole down through the center, and this he continually widens by pressing the edges of the revolving cone between his hands. As it enlarges, he gives it whatever shape he pleases with the utmost care and speed. When Jeremiah was watching the potter, the vessel was marred in his hand, and so, "he made it again into another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it." We saw this happen many times. Because of some defect in the clay, the potter changed his mind, crushed the jar into a shapeless mass of clay, and beginning anew, fashioned it into a totally different vessel.
One is amazed at the quick performance, and at the result, until one remembers that the clay is in the hands of a master workman.
Now let us go into a peasant’s home. As you enter, back of the door you will find a bench about four feet high, with three holes in it. This is the water-jar stand. It is called "the holder of jars." Here you will see two large jars, each holding four or five gallons, and beside them a small drinking vessel. The peasant will offer you the small drinking vessel as you enter the house. It is very much of an art to be able to use it, but to people brought up from childhood in an Oriental home it does not appear so. You will be invited to fill it to the brim from the first jar, called the vessel of honor.
What is the vessel of honor? Well, let us go back to the pottery and ask to buy a vessel. The potter will ask, "Do you want to carry it to the fountain? Then you must bear a vessel of honor" (2 Timothy 2:20-21). A vessel of honor, what does it mean? It is a vessel that will give out pure water to quench the thirst of the stranger and the weary traveler. You purchase the vessel of honor, holding about five gallons. It has two handles and is beautifully shaped. You place it on your right shoulder or your head and go to the fountain to get water.
If you meet a stranger he will see your jar filled with cold, clean, refreshing water, and he likely will ask for a drink. This is the mission of a "vessel of honor," giving free water, the gift of God, to passers-by. It is nothing but an earthen vessel, but nevertheless, it is a vessel of honor, because of its giving-out nature. It fulfills the expectation of the master potter. This is the first large vessel on that bench behind the door. Next to that is another vessel. It looks just like the vessel of honor; but is not of the same nature. You could never tell the difference, but the potter can explain to you the difference between the vessel of honor and the vessel of dishonor. This vessel will remain at home. All the stale water in the vessel of honor will be emptied into it. It receives much, but gives out very little. In Jeremiah 22:28 we read of a vessel called "empty of pleasure." This is the vessel beside the vessel of honor on the bench. This vessel receives the left-over water, is forever receiving, but never gives out refreshing water. It is used for stale water only, and 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 backyard as a receptacle for waste things and then will be called an abominable vessel. This is mentioned in Isaiah 65:4.
It must be sad for the potter to know that the vessel he spent much time and skill upon should become a vessel empty of pleasure, and at last become an abominable vessel.