The Parable of the Potter's Hand
The Parable of the Potter's Hand
The Rebellious Little Pot
Let us hypothesize that the created thing that is being formed falls into a spirit of rebellion with his Creator. Granted, in the backdrop of this situation, the created thing has long affirmed and recognized the sovereignty of the Creator. In order for the Creator to make manifest the unequivocal dependence of the creature upon his maker, the Creator that is forming the pot momentarily lifts His hand from that which He is sculpting. It is at that moment that the little pot becomes troubled. Gradually, the little pot flings vehemently, if not violently, around the potter's wheel. And without the comfort and security of the sculpting hand of his Creator, the finite little pot senses its fate without the potter's hand, and finally screams "Help!" Just as the little pot is totally whipped out of shape, and on verge of complete deformity and it is about to be violently torn apart and flung off the potter's wheel — then the potter mercifully takes his hand upon it.
Surprised by Suffering
God has formed an inseperable link between suffering and our spiritual growth. The Apostle Paul says that "[W]e also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance..." (Rom. 5:3). The Greek Koine word translated tribulation here is actually (θλῖψις or thlip'-sis) which means "to press" as in often used to describe the act of crushing olives or grapes. In the allegorical context the Apostle Paul uses, it suggests the heavy pressures, anguish and troubles that afflict the life of the believer.
This parable has been applicable to my life. For those of faith, God prepares us like no one can prepare us. Without God's enabling we can do no good works — none whatsoever. In his tract Behind A Frowning Providence, John J. Murray reminds us:
Solace in the Psalms
In my affliction, I found solace in the Psalms of David, and became circumspect about the lives of various Old Testament characters such as David, Jona . nsider the eruptions of sin in the lives of so many of God's saints in both the Old and New Testaments:
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"The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying: “Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear My words.” Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something at the wheel."The Holy Scriptures affirm the sovereignty of God (Job 42:2; Ps. 33:10-11; Ps. 115:3; Is. 14:27; Is. 43:13; Is. 46:10; Dan. 4:35; Eph. 1:11). Besides, can the clay make and sculpt itself? Moreover, can the clay make itself in the image of the Creator whom he has not seen? The answer to both of those questions is obviously No. "Does not the potter have power over the clay?" (Rom. 9:21).
—Jeremiah 18:1-3
The Rebellious Little Pot
"Woe to him who strives with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth! Shall the clay say to him who forms it, 'What are you making?' Or shall your handiwork say, 'He has no hands?'"
—Isaiah 45:9 (NKJV)
Let us hypothesize that the created thing that is being formed falls into a spirit of rebellion with his Creator. Granted, in the backdrop of this situation, the created thing has long affirmed and recognized the sovereignty of the Creator. In order for the Creator to make manifest the unequivocal dependence of the creature upon his maker, the Creator that is forming the pot momentarily lifts His hand from that which He is sculpting. It is at that moment that the little pot becomes troubled. Gradually, the little pot flings vehemently, if not violently, around the potter's wheel. And without the comfort and security of the sculpting hand of his Creator, the finite little pot senses its fate without the potter's hand, and finally screams "Help!" Just as the little pot is totally whipped out of shape, and on verge of complete deformity and it is about to be violently torn apart and flung off the potter's wheel — then the potter mercifully takes his hand upon it. "The potter saves it, breaks it and forms it anew. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make."The pot then realizes its unequivocal and total dependence upon the Creator for sustaining and saving grace, and for the very perserverance so integral to its survival, its development, and its fulfillment of purpose.
—Jeremiah 18:4
God has an over-arching purpose for all believers: to conform us to the likeness of His Son, Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29). He also has a specific purpose for each of us that is His unique, tailor-made plan for our individual life (see Ephesians 2:10). And God will fulfill that purpose.“O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?” says the LORD. “Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel! (Jer. 18:6). Least we forget, grace is something given to someone not deserved. Let us never forget that! How totally dependent we are on the potter?
—Bridges, Jerry. Trusting God: Even When Life Hurts (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 1988. p. 46
Woe to those who seek deep to hide their counsel far from the LORD,God is working all things out for His purposes, in accordance with His perfect will. My hope, prayer and continual supplication is that God would mold and make me into an admirable man of God, and that He would give me the grace to endure further adversities and trials.
And their works are in the dark;
They say, “Who sees us?” and, “Who knows us?”
Surely you have things turned around!
Shall the potter be esteemed as the clay;
For shall the thing made say of him who made it,
“ He did not make me”?
Or shall the thing formed say of him who formed it,
“ He has no understanding”?
—Isaiah 29:15-17
Surprised by Suffering
God has formed an inseperable link between suffering and our spiritual growth. The Apostle Paul says that "[W]e also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance..." (Rom. 5:3). The Greek Koine word translated tribulation here is actually (θλῖψις or thlip'-sis) which means "to press" as in often used to describe the act of crushing olives or grapes. In the allegorical context the Apostle Paul uses, it suggests the heavy pressures, anguish and troubles that afflict the life of the believer.
This parable has been applicable to my life. For those of faith, God prepares us like no one can prepare us. Without God's enabling we can do no good works — none whatsoever. In his tract Behind A Frowning Providence, John J. Murray reminds us:
Our lives resemble the workshop. We are in the place of preparation. My life has the chisel of God upon it. Our English word 'character' comes from a Greek word which means an engraving tool, a die for stamping an image. The trials of life can be God's toold for engraving the image of his Son on our character."For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:10).
—Murray, John J. Behind A Frowning Providence (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1990. p. 28
Solace in the Psalms
In my affliction, I found solace in the Psalms of David, and became circumspect about the lives of various Old Testament characters such as David, Jona . nsider the eruptions of sin in the lives of so many of God's saints in both the Old and New Testaments:
Abraham with his deceitfulness; David with his deceit and ; Job with his rash and hasty words; Moses with his hasty and intemperate anger; Asaph with his murmuring; Jonah with his rebellion; Simon Peter with his unfaithfulness; and Paul with his pride.As John Calvin writes of David in Psalm 41:
David, while he was severely afflicted by the hand of God, perceived that he was unjustly blamed by men who regarded him as one who had already been condemned and devoted to eternal destruction. Under this trial he fortifies himself by the consolation of hope. At the same time, he complains partly of the cruelty, and partly of the treachery, of his enemies. And although he recognises the affliction with which he is visited as a just punishment of his sins, yet he charges his enemies with cruelty and malice, inasmuch as they troubled and afflicted one who had always endeavored to do them good. Finally, he records an expression of his gratitude and joy, because he had been preserved by the grace of God.As the Psalmist declares of David:
"I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will."David stumbled into sins that were unimaginable, and he fell time and time again, but his repentance was one of godly sorrow for his sins, which is why he was called a man after God's own heart. God saw him favor, not because of who David was, or what he had done, but because of who God was, and the Lord's abundant grace and his mercy. The Apostle Paul admonishes us, "For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death" (2 Cor. 7:10).
—Acts 13:22 (cf. 1 Sam. 13:13-14)
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