Jer. 23 is a very strong admonishment for false prophets! Talks all about preachers getting their sermons from each other, thinking they are telling God's truth but are not asking God what to preach! "Prophets" telling everyone how it's all going to be alright! Feel good messages for a very lost and sinful people. Hmm sounds like today! This chapter could have been written for Today!
I love that God took Jeremiah to the potter. Everyone at that time would have understood the comparison, but unless one is familiar with clay and pottery today, So much of the message is lost. The steps for working up a pot are interesting comparisons!
Before the clay is even usable, all the impurities must be removed, then it is set aside to age. Then the work begins. First one has to "wedge" the clay... meaning you beat it and knead it to remove all the air bubbles and actually work the clay particles into the same direction. After you beat the crud out of the clay, it is Slammed onto the wheel.
Shaping begins. This totally changes the clay from a useless lump into a vessel Shape. As it is being "thrown" on the wheel, any unevenness in the clay will cause the shape to wobble and warp. When that happens? It goes back to a Lump, wedged again, aged again, wedged again and then back to the wheel. Even after all the shaping is done, there is scraping to be done, then its set aside again.
After firming up, back on the wheel for more scraping and trimming. Set aside.
Back to the wheel, smoothing and possible engraving decorations.
Set aside.
Firmed up good, it is removed from the "bat" (support plate). More trimming, smoothing, scraping.
Then into the Fire!
Inspected for places needing sanding...remember now it's ceramic, so sanding is difficult (now days we use mechanical grinders), stain or glaze is applied (unfired glaze is not the final color. It looks chalky and bland)
Set aside again. Fired again.
Now if it hasn't cracked, exploded, or warped, it is useful.
This is a long process, time consuming and the most work is in the trimming, sanding, and finishing. If the clay was not pure enough, or wasn't wedged well enough in the beginning, it will crack or explode in the first firing. If the glaze isn't right, the vessel will not hold liquid.
Each step is meticulous and time consuming. The setting aside is Necessary to allow the clay to cure properly. Again, if not done right, not long enough etc. the vessel will warp, crack or even explode in the firing.
Put yourself in the place of the original raw clay. The Potter will work us through each step, carefully and completely. Each phase of the process requires time.. Some of the steps are painful even. The initial shaping changes us into a New form, the scraping and sanding removes imperfections, sharp edges, flaws.
Sitting on a shelf may not seem like a Useful time, for the one doing the sitting, but it is Vital for a completed, usable vessel. Only after all the hard work is done is the vessel close to useful. Even after the glaze is applied, it's ugly and bland looking, until it goes through the Hottest firing. Only the firing brings out the beauty of the glaze, turning the colors from muted and blah into brilliant glass.
Then... Finally ... it's ready to use, It will be strong, sturdy, and beautiful.
Everyone should watch the whole process once with this comparison to God shaping us in mind!!!
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