God gave Jeremiah two messages using the earthen vessels. First, he was commanded to visit a potter and make observations. Second, there is the earthen jar that is broken. (Jeremiah 18:1-11; 19:10-11) The wet clay is redeemable and could be reshaped. The broken jar cannot be repaired or restored. Without repentance, there is no restoration.
Potter: God is a potter. He carefully chooses the sand, makes it into clay with the right proportion of water, and then moulds it into a vessel of his choice. Sometimes, the clay does not get into shape on the first attempt. The potter may try several times, and in various shapes and sizes.
Clay: The Nation of Judah was like the clay, and God was shaping them to be His people, His ambassadors to the world, and teachers of Law to the world. However, they did not measure up to God’s expectations. Again and again, they failed. Through the prophet Jeremiah, the Lord gave another opportunity for the nation to repent from idol worship, waywardness, and disobedience to His Law. The Nation failed to repent, and God pronounced judgment on the nation.
Broken jar: God commanded Jeremiah to take a clay jar and shatter it before a few people who were witnesses. The location was the Valley of Ben-hinnon, and Jeremiah smashed the jar in Topheth, a site of child sacrifice, which was an abomination to the Lord. (Deuteronomy 12:31)
Judgement: That place where child sacrifice was done will become a ‘Valley of Slaughter’ filled with the dead. The broken jar cannot be restored or repaired, or re-purposed. It goes into multiple pieces and cannot be brought together, but is discarded. The message was clear that God would break the nation like a clay jar for their perpetual backsliding and rebellious disobedience. Since there was no repentance from the Nation of Judah, the time of grace was over, and only judgment was an option. Holy God will punish and judge anyone, any nation, according to His righteousness. Even the chosen people are not exempt from His judgments.
Do I respond to God’s warnings and repent?