Jeremiah 18-20

In today’s lengthy passage Jeremiah resumes his ministry of speaking for God.  Through three “object lessons” God makes clear His plan for rebellious Judah.

•    At the potter’s house (18:1-11) Jeremiah preached God’s sovereignty, that as the potter can alter his work on a vessel so God can alter His work on His people.  God will bring disaster on Judah because of their evil ways; this is His prerogative.  What is the response to this message?  First, it is to reject God. ‘That is hopeless!’ they say; ‘So we will walk according to our own plans, and we will everyone obey the dictates of his evil heart’ (18:12).  This haughty spirit is proof that, as God had said at the first (2:13), they had left the refreshing waters from the snows of Lebanon and Mt. Hermon in favor of the strange waters of idolatry (18:14).  Second, they threaten God’s prophet (18:18).  Jeremiah’s renewed trust in God as his deliverer leads him to place the threats in God’s hands (18:19-23).
•    In Chapter 19 the illustration now involves an earthen vessel, the work of a potter.  At Valley of the Son of Hinnom, where Judah had in time past practiced the most heinous of their idolatrous practices, Jeremiah breaks the bottle to illustrate how God will break the nation.  This steep valley became a picture of “hell” (Greek gehenna) for Christ (Mark 9:42-48).  Thus the valley itself, even today, is a reminder of the certainty of judgment on those who reject Christ (Rev. 20:14-15).
•    The response to this latest message comes from the son of the priest who puts Jeremiah in stocks overnight (20:1-6).  While the nature of this punishment is uncertain, it is clear that Jeremiah was physically abused and then confined for a period of time.  But God is true to His promise to deliver and preserve Jeremiah. In the end, the son of the priest becomes a third illustration of the certainty of judgment. Pashur, whose name means freedom, will go into captivity along with the rest of Judah.

After these messages and events Jeremiah again is discouraged, and bemoans the day of his birth (20:7-18).  But mixed in with the discouragement are some marvelous words that tell us that the ‘weeping prophet’ is in the right place.  When he determines not to preach anymore the message so burns within that he cannot hold it back (20:9).  This is the mark of a true prophet: he is unable to refrain from speaking God’s word, even when it is most unpopular.

When people tried to find a fault in Jeremiah, he trusted the LORD who was with him as a mighty, awesome One (20:11).  This is what our Lord Jesus did (Lk. 23:46) and what we are to do (I Pt. 4:19).  Jesus promised to be with us as we serve Him (Matt. 28:19-20; 2 Tim. 4:17-18).  Let us not fade in our often-difficult ministry.  Let us be strengthened by the reality of His presence at all times.  “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)