Jeremiah 18-19: It’s Unavoidable

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective

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Jeremiah 18 – Potter and the Clay
Jeremiah likely delivered this message to Judah prior to the Babylonian invasion during Josiah’s reign. In this chapter, Yahweh is the Potter and Israel is the clay and God told Jeremiah to go to “the” Potter’s house, likely a well-known location (vv1-2).

Jeremiah watched the Potter work and the vessel he made became damaged so the Potter created something else (vv3-4). God’s message to Israel was that He had the right to do with that nation what He chose to do (vv5-6; Ro 9:20-21)

God might ultimately destroy Israel if they chose not to repent, though if they did repent He would change His mind (vv7-8). Anyone who turns from unbelief to faith causes God to change from condemning them to granting them salvation. God might also move from blessing to cursing depending on how a nation/people responded to Him (vv9-10) and this holds true with the believer as well; with discipline or blessing. The Lord warned the people to prepare for calamity unless they repented (v11).

Breaking the Covenant (18:13-17)
God asked if any other nation had done what Israel had done, including sexual immorality. Israel had abandoned Yahweh to worship worthless idols. Because of it, their Land would become desolate and no idol would save them. Furthermore, God would scatter the people from the Land in front of their enemies. Idolatry always leads to dead ends.

Jeremiah’s Ministry (18:18-23)
Many in Israel wanted Jeremiah dead because of what he said. They wanted to kill him because of words which happened to be truth that they did not like. We see this happening today as well in and outside Christendom as people do not want to hear the truth. Moreover, truth is attacked and negated throughout society because it is inconvenient and people do not want to hear it.

In response, Jeremiah offers laments to God and asks that He rebuke the people strongly. Jeremiah was angry at the state of Israel and wanted God to act based on what He promised to do to that nation.

When we view our world today, do we want God to act?

The Broken Jar (19:1-13)
This incident may have occurred between 609 and 605 B.C., between King Josiah’s death & Nebuchadnezzar’s defeat of the Assyrians and Egyptians at Carchemish. Here, Jeremiah tells the elders of Israel that they will be smashed and taken out of the country. Jeremiah said the siege of Jerusalem would be so bad, that the residents would eat their own children (v9).

Earlier, God had said He would reshape the people if they repented. It had become too late for that and God was choosing to destroy much of that generation of Jewish people, but still sent out warnings through the prophet Jeremiah.

God will always do what is best whether we think so or not. We need to move in step with Him, not against Him.

Jeremiah 9:23-24 says,

Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.”

Knowing and understanding the Lord begins with obedience to His commands (which are the law of love Romans 13:8). As we become more obedient to God, we grow in our love for Him.

Breaking of Jeremiah’s Freedom (19:14-20:6)
Jeremiah returned from Topheth to the Temple courtyard. There he announced that God was going to destroy Jerusalem and the towns of Judah because of their unwillingness to repent.

Pashur, the leading priest, responded by demanding Jeremiah be put in stocks and beaten so it was done. Those ancient stocks, which were used for false prophets (cf. 2 Chron 16:10), held the feet, hands, and neck so that the body was almost doubled up in contortion (cf. 29:26). This of course, caused much pain. The Hebrew word for ‘stocks’ (mahpeketh) means ‘causing distortion.’

What happened to Jeremiah was fully illegal. It should have never been done. The high priest and other priests had not been consulted. Neither were Jeremiah’s credentials examined. Pashur literally stood against God with this action since Jeremiah was uttering the very words and warnings of God.

It is interesting that this persecution originated from organized religion itself! Today’s evangelical movement is in serious danger of collapse because it plays fast and loose with worldly endeavors, trying to please and embrace the world.

Jeremiah’s incarceration lasted one day and Pashur gave Jeremiah a new name: Magomassabib, meaning “Terror on Every Side.”

However, the Lord would turn the tables on Pashur. God announced through Jeremiah that Pashhur would become a terror to others, his friends, and even himself, and he would feel terror when he saw the coming invader slaughter his loved ones.

Pashhur and his loved ones, would end up in Babylon as exiles. He went into captivity in 597 B.C. The first explicit reference to the place of exile in the book: “Babylon“ is found in 20:4.

Application for Believers

• God is fully sovereign over His Creation
• God will accomplish what He chooses to accomplish
• Often, the Lord brings pressures into our lives to test us and help us grow in Him
• How we respond to those pressures determines whether we grow with God or move away from Him
• God will bless us in our obedience to His law of love or He will discipline us for our failure to obey Him
• These are the two choices we constantly face in life
• God will always provide a way if we exercise faith in Him

Life is difficult for us today in many ways. But there is nothing that God cannot help us with and see our way through. However, it is incumbent upon us to seek Him, His ways and His face. He will guide us if we ask Him to do so. He will provide insight and discernment into our specific needs. He will not leave or forsake us.

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective

Source: https://studygrowknowblog.com/2026/01/09/jeremiah-18-19-its-unavoidable/