My sister has taken up pottery and to my amazement can take a lump of clay, manipulate it thoroughly and shape it into a wonderful bowl on her potter’s wheel. And when she spots an imperfection or fails to produce the shape she has in mind, she starts over. She is always in control.

Soft clay can be shaped and molded; fired clay can be broken and shattered!

In chapter 18 a potter was using soft and malleable clay to make a pot but here in chapter 19 Jeremiah picks up the finished product from the potter: a cured and fired clay jar.

Read Reflect When I entered my final year of studies for my Master of Divinity, I found it hard to keep on reading, researching and writing for those last classes. I was tired and had lost the love of learning that was there in my first year. I did however have something that Jeremiah did […]

Read Reflect Not too many of us know a lot about shepherds or sheep, but in biblical times they were common. Domestic sheep are not well suited to survive on their own and need the attention and care of shepherds who not only lead them to good places where they can eat and drink but […]

Read Reflect It is a sad development in our political discourse when “fact-checking” is employed after every public debate or speech. We would hope that those who strive for high office would be honest and tell the truth but increasingly we (and our media) doubt this. In this section of Jeremiah God is angry with […]

Read Reflect How amazing are the first eight verses of this passage? The psalmist is full of praise for the Lord and heaping all the victories onto God – we can’t help but feel inspired! Then, out of nowhere, bitter complaints and scornful grumblings right to the very end. Where God was once given victories, […]

Read Reflect Most of us are not in a position of authority like King Solomon, where we sit and judge cases brought before us day by day. However there is plenty in this passage that we can apply to our daily lives. Fairness is important in every situation, but it really takes centre stage when […]