The Lessons at the Potter's House |
Jeremiah 18:1-23 The Book of Jeremiah [in Smaller Chunks] |
The Word [that] came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, Arise & go down to the potter's house. And I will cause you to hear My Words there. Then, I went down to the potter's house & [saw] he [fashioned] a work [of clay, on the potter's wheel.] |
And the vessel that he made of clay was [ruined] in the potter's [hands,] so he made it [into] another vessel again, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Then, the Word of the Lord came to me, saying, The Lord says, O house of Israel, can't I do with you [like] this potter? |
[Look,] the clay is in the potter's hand. You are [also] in [My] hand, O house of Israel. At what instant, I shall speak [about] a nation & a kingdom, [whether] to: [snatch it] up, pull [it] down & to destroy it; if that nation, against whom, I've [announced this, turns away] from their evil, I will [withdraw] the evil that I thought to do to them. |
And at what instant, I shall speak [about] a nation & a kingdom, to [rebuild it] & to plant it, if it [does what is] evil in My sight & it [doesn't] obey My voice, then I will [withdraw] the good, [with which,] I said I would benefit them. |
Therefore, now go to speak to the men of Judah & [Jerusalem's residents, saying,] The Lord says [this, Look,] I [propose] evil against you & devise a [plan] against you. Now, everyone, return from his evil [ways] & make your ways & your [actions] good. |
And they said, There is no hope, but we will [follow] after our own [plans.] And everyone will do the imagination of his evil heart. [Micah 3:10-11 They [rebuilt] Zion with [bloodshed] & they [rebuilt] Jerusalem with [sin.] [Its leaders] judge for reward, [a.k.a. bribes] & [its] priests teach for [pay.] And [its] prophets [predict] for money. [Still,] they [rely] upon the Lord & say, [No,] evil can come upon us.] |
Therefore, the Lord says [this;] You ask among the heathen, Who has heard [of] such things? The virgin of Israel has done a very horrible thing. Will a man leave the snow [waters] of Lebanon, which comes [off] from the rocks of the field? Or shall the cold flowing waters that come from another place, be [abandoned?] |
Because My people have forgotten Me, they have burned incense to [what is] vanity. And [through] their ways, they have caused them to stumble in their [roads,] from the ancient paths, to walk in a [road that] [isn't built up.] |
[Jeremiah 6:16 The Lord says [this,] You stand in the [roads] & see & ask for the old paths, where [there are] good [roads] & walk [in them] & you shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We won't walk [there.] |
[Making] their land desolate, everyone, [who] passes [by there,] shall be astonished & [continually hiss] & [shake] his head. I will scatter them [like] with an East wind, [in front of] the enemy. I will [show] them [My] back & not [My] face, [on] the day of their calamity. |
Then, they said, Come & let us devise [plans] against Jeremiah. For the Law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come & let us [slander him] with [our mouth.] And let's not [pay attention] to any of his words. |
[Pay attention] to me, O Lord & [listen to the voices of those who quarrel] with me. Shall evil be [repaid,] for good? For they have [dug] a pit for my [life.] Remember that I stood before You, to speak good [to] them & to turn Your [fury] away from them. |
Therefore, deliver their children to the famine & pour out their blood by the force of the sword. And let their wives be [deprived] of their children & be widows. And let their men be put to death & let their young men be slain by the sword in battle. |
Let [an out] cry be heard from their houses, when You shall suddenly bring a troop upon them. For they have [dug] a pit to [capture] me & hid [traps] for my feet. [Still,] Lord, You know all their [advice] against me, to [kill] me. |
[Don't] forgive their iniquity & neither blot out their sin from Your sight. But let them be overthrown [in front of] You. [Treat them like this] in the time of Your anger. [Psalm 69:28 Let them be blotted out of the Book of the LIving & not be written with the righteous.] |