Jeremiah Watches the Potter at His WheelBible World
9:21Romans 9:21
Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
God as Maker has rightful authority over the people He formed, just as a potter has authority over the clay. This claim rests on ownership by creation, since the material of humanity is His own work, and by redemption, since people have been bought with the precious blood of Christ and live in Him, so they are not their own and owe Him their whole willing service, including the use of their bodies. He exercises this authority by actively molding those in His hands day by day as a potter shapes clay into a useful vessel, with wisdom, pity, and love, while their part is to yield, stay pliable, surrender self to His will, and cooperate rather than find fault or try to direct the work. Those who submit are formed into vessels of honor in Christ's image, made humble, shapely, fruitful and useful, partakers of the divine nature and filled with His renewing grace, and are fitted and placed for the service where they can work in unity with Him and witness through unselfish lives.
Potter's Authority Over Clay
God as Maker has rightful authority over the people He formed, just as a potter has authority over the clay. This authority rests on ownership, for the dust and clay from which human beings are made is His own production by creation. By that creation He is the Master Artist and owner of the work of His hands. That claim of creation is joined by redemption, since people have been bought with the precious blood of Christ and live and move and have their being in Him. Therefore by creation and redemption they are His property and not their own, and He rightfully claims their entire willing service, including the use of their bodies.
His authority as potter over the clay extends over both Israel and the Gentiles. From either group He may call people to different purposes. Those called include both Jews and Gentiles prepared for glory, to whom He reveals the riches of His glory, while He patiently endures those destined for destruction.
Molded into Vessels of Honor
The verse presents God as actively molding those in His hands day by day, as a potter shapes clay into a useful vessel fit for use. That shaping includes kneading, tearing, pressing, wetting, drying, shaping, trimming, and polishing, until the servant is formed into Christ's image. In the hands of Jesus this molding is done with wisdom, pity, and love, working in surrendered people what pleases Him and transforming them into Christ's likeness.
The person's part is to yield and submit to the Lord's molding rather than find fault with it. The clay is not to attempt to do the potter's work and direct it, but to be pliable in His hands. This means surrendering self to His will and heeding His instruction, so that His hand forms shapely vessels after His own likeness. One who has begun the life of faith is to be willing to follow wherever He leads, trusting Him to carry out His designs while cooperating in working out salvation.
Those who thus submit are worked into vessels of honor. They become humble and useful, made partakers of the divine nature and fruitful workers. They are filled with Christ's renewing, sanctifying grace. Where submission is refused, defects and wrong tendencies mar the character and prevent the beauty and perfection God desires.
As vessels of honor they are fitted for His service and use and placed where they are best suited to work in unity with Christ. They are enabled to serve in their appointed place and to bear witness to Him through unselfish lives. Resisting His guidance frustrates the work, while submitting to it allows a life joined together in harmony. In particular, God draws young men into close relationship with Himself so He can claim their whole hearts and affections and mold them into vessels for honorable service. He thereby prepares them for work suited to them and for a special work, calling them to pursue holiness like Daniel.
Human hearts are in God's hands as clay is in the potter's hands. People therefore cannot make others believe by force. God Himself works on the heart, and His Word can bring about what human efforts cannot.
God as Maker has rightful authority over the people He formed, just as a potter has authority over the clay. This claim rests on ownership by creation, since the material of humanity is His own work, and by redemption, since people have been bought with the precious blood of Christ and live in Him, so they are not their own and owe Him their whole willing service, including the use of their bodies. He exercises this authority by actively molding those in His hands day by day as a potter shapes clay into a useful vessel, with wisdom, pity, and love, while their part is to yield, stay pliable, surrender self to His will, and cooperate rather than find fault or try to direct the work. Those who submit are formed into vessels of honor in Christ's image, made humble, shapely, fruitful and useful, partakers of the divine nature and filled with His renewing grace, and are fitted and placed for the service where they can work in unity with Him and witness through unselfish lives.
Potter's Authority Over Clay
God as Maker has rightful authority over the people He formed, just as a potter has authority over the clay. This authority rests on ownership, for the dust and clay from which human beings are made is His own production by creation. By that creation He is the Master Artist and owner of the work of His hands. That claim of creation is joined by redemption, since people have been bought with the precious blood of Christ and live and move and have their being in Him. Therefore by creation and redemption they are His property and not their own, and He rightfully claims their entire willing service, including the use of their bodies.
His authority as potter over the clay extends over both Israel and the Gentiles. From either group He may call people to different purposes. Those called include both Jews and Gentiles prepared for glory, to whom He reveals the riches of His glory, while He patiently endures those destined for destruction.
Molded into Vessels of Honor
The verse presents God as actively molding those in His hands day by day, as a potter shapes clay into a useful vessel fit for use. That shaping includes kneading, tearing, pressing, wetting, drying, shaping, trimming, and polishing, until the servant is formed into Christ's image. In the hands of Jesus this molding is done with wisdom, pity, and love, working in surrendered people what pleases Him and transforming them into Christ's likeness.
The person's part is to yield and submit to the Lord's molding rather than find fault with it. The clay is not to attempt to do the potter's work and direct it, but to be pliable in His hands. This means surrendering self to His will and heeding His instruction, so that His hand forms shapely vessels after His own likeness. One who has begun the life of faith is to be willing to follow wherever He leads, trusting Him to carry out His designs while cooperating in working out salvation.
Those who thus submit are worked into vessels of honor. They become humble and useful, made partakers of the divine nature and fruitful workers. They are filled with Christ's renewing, sanctifying grace. Where submission is refused, defects and wrong tendencies mar the character and prevent the beauty and perfection God desires.
As vessels of honor they are fitted for His service and use and placed where they are best suited to work in unity with Christ. They are enabled to serve in their appointed place and to bear witness to Him through unselfish lives. Resisting His guidance frustrates the work, while submitting to it allows a life joined together in harmony. In particular, God draws young men into close relationship with Himself so He can claim their whole hearts and affections and mold them into vessels for honorable service. He thereby prepares them for work suited to them and for a special work, calling them to pursue holiness like Daniel.
Human hearts are in God's hands as clay is in the potter's hands. People therefore cannot make others believe by force. God Himself works on the heart, and His Word can bring about what human efforts cannot.