The Potter’s Hand, the People’s Heart, and the Promise of Judgment
- Be God's Glory
- Aug 16
- 10 min read
Welcome to Day 228 of The Glory Team Bible Reading plan and we are in the book of Jeremiah. In these chapters, God uses Jeremiah’s life and vivid imagery to deliver urgent messages to Judah. In chapter 16, Jeremiah is commanded not to marry or have children as a sign of the coming devastation, where death, famine, and exile will dominate the land. Chapter 17 contrasts the cursed life that trusts in man with the blessed life that trusts in God, while warning against deceitful hearts and emphasizing Sabbath observance. Chapter 18 presents the well-known image of the potter and clay, showing God’s sovereign right to shape nations according to their response to Him, followed by Judah’s stubborn rejection of His word. Together, these passages reveal God’s deep involvement in shaping His people, His call to repentance, and the dire consequences of hard-heartedness.
Jeremiah 16
God instructs Jeremiah not to marry or have children, symbolizing the coming days when life in Judah will be cut short by sword, famine, and disease. The absence of mourning customs and joyful celebrations in the land is a prophetic sign that judgment will be total and unavoidable. The people ask why disaster is coming, and God answers that it is because of their ancestors’ idolatry and their own persistence in sin. Yet, the chapter also includes a glimpse of hope: God promises a future restoration where He will bring His people back from exile, surpassing even the Exodus from Egypt in significance. The chapter ends with a warning that idolatrous nations will be taught God’s power, either through blessing for repentance or judgment for rebellion.
Jeremiah 17
This chapter opens with the imagery of Judah’s sin being engraved with an iron tool on their hearts, showing the depth of their rebellion. God contrasts the cursed life of those who trust in human strength with the blessed life of those who trust in the Lord, using the image of a tree planted by water for the righteous. The human heart is described as deceitful above all things, beyond human understanding, yet fully known by God who searches and rewards according to one’s deeds. Jeremiah prays for deliverance from his persecutors and calls on God for justice. The chapter closes with a command to honor the Sabbath as a covenant sign, promising that obedience would bring blessing and disobedience would bring fire and destruction.
Jeremiah 18
God sends Jeremiah to the potter’s house, where he watches the potter reshape a spoiled clay vessel into something new. This becomes a message about God’s sovereignty over nations—He can build up or tear down depending on their response to His word. If a nation repents, God will relent from disaster; if it turns to evil, He will withdraw promised blessings. Despite this, Judah chooses to follow its own plans, saying, “We will follow our own thoughts.” God warns that their rebellion will lead to national ruin and that surrounding nations will be shocked by their downfall. The chapter closes with plots against Jeremiah and his prayer for God to bring justice on those seeking his harm.
Origin & Meaning of the Name:
The name Jeremiah comes from the Hebrew Yirmĕyāhû or Yirmĕyāh, meaning “Yahweh will exalt,” “Yahweh appoints,” or “The Lord establishes.” This meaning reflects Jeremiah’s prophetic calling, as God appointed him before his birth to be “a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5). The name itself is a prophetic statement of God’s sovereignty and purpose in raising up His messengers.
Purpose of the Book:
The Book of Jeremiah serves as both a record of God’s judgment and His invitation to repentance. Written during a time of national decline in Judah (late 7th to early 6th century B.C.), its purpose is to:
Warn Judah of the coming Babylonian invasion as a consequence of their covenant unfaithfulness.
Call the people to repentance, offering them the hope of restoration if they return to God.
Explain the fall of Jerusalem and the exile as part of God’s sovereign plan.
Provide hope for the future, pointing toward a new covenant where God’s law would be written on the hearts of His people (Jeremiah 31:31–34).
It is both a book of judgment and a book of hope—showing God’s justice in punishing sin and His mercy in promising restoration.
Authorship & Sources Supporting the Author:
The prophet Jeremiah, son of Hilkiah, is credited as the author of the book, with assistance from his scribe Baruch son of Neriah.
Biblical evidence for Jeremiah as the author includes:
Jeremiah 1:1–2 – Clearly identifies Jeremiah, son of Hilkiah, as the prophet who received the words of the Lord.
Jeremiah 36:1–4 – God commands Jeremiah to dictate His words to Baruch, who writes them down on a scroll.
Jeremiah 36:32 – After King Jehoiakim burns the first scroll, Jeremiah dictates the same words again to Baruch, along with additional messages.
2 Chronicles 35:25 – Mentions Jeremiah writing laments for King Josiah.
Daniel 9:2 – Refers to “the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet” as authoritative Scripture, confirming early recognition of his writings.
External historical sources also support Jeremiah’s authorship:
The Babylonian Talmud (Baba Bathra 14b–15a) lists Jeremiah as the author of his prophetic book, the Book of Kings, and Lamentations.
Jewish historian Flavius Josephus (Antiquities of the Jews, Book 10, Chapter 5) records Jeremiah as the prophet who warned of Jerusalem’s fall and wrote about it.
Ancient Septuagint manuscripts (Greek translation of the Old Testament, 3rd–2nd century B.C.) attribute the prophecies to Jeremiah, though in slightly different order than the Hebrew text.
Key People:
Jeremiah – The “weeping prophet,” called by God to warn Judah of coming judgment and to urge repentance.
Baruch son of Neriah – Jeremiah’s faithful scribe who recorded and preserved his messages.
King Josiah – The last godly king of Judah, under whom Jeremiah began his ministry.
King Jehoiakim – Rejected Jeremiah’s warnings and burned his prophetic scroll.
King Zedekiah – The last king of Judah before the Babylonian exile; vacillated between listening to Jeremiah and fearing his officials.
Nebuchadnezzar – King of Babylon who conquered Jerusalem and carried the people into exile.
Ebed-Melek – An Ethiopian court official who rescued Jeremiah from a cistern.
False prophets like Hananiah – Opposed Jeremiah’s message, promising peace when judgment was coming.
Conclusion
The Book of Jeremiah ends with the tragic reality of Jerusalem’s destruction and Judah’s exile to Babylon (chapters 39–52), fulfilling the very warnings Jeremiah proclaimed for decades. Yet, it is not a message of despair—it also points forward to God’s faithfulness in keeping His promises. The prophecies of a new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31–34) and future restoration reveal God’s ultimate plan to redeem His people. Jeremiah’s ministry demonstrates that God’s word is unchanging, His justice is certain, and His mercy is always available to those who return to Him with a sincere heart. Even in judgment, God is working for the good of His people and the fulfillment of His redemptive purposes.
What is God's Name in these Chapters?
In this portion of our journey we want to dive deep into the character of God described in His name. By identifying who God is, we can further relate to Him personally and build a stronger relationship and connection with Our Father.
Names are important. They give significance to places, people, and things. We identify with so much based off what it's name is. This is considerably notable when it comes to the names of God.
"Jehovah" is considered a Latinized version of the Hebrew name "Yahweh" (represented by the consonants YHWH) where the vowels of the Hebrew word "Adonai" (meaning "my Lord") were added to the Tetragrammaton (YHWH) when pronounced by Jewish readers who avoided saying the sacred name directly; essentially, Christian scholars combined the consonants of YHWH with the vowels of Adonai to create the pronunciation "Jehovah" in the Latin alphabet.
Looking for the Names of God from the previous chapters? Due to the overwhelming amount of names we had to dedicate a special place for them for the sake of space. Click the link to see them:
Jeremiah 16
In Jeremiah 16, God is revealed as sovereign over life’s seasons, even using the personal life of His prophet as a living sign to the nation. His holiness requires Him to confront sin directly, and His justice demands consequences for generational rebellion. Yet, He is also a God of restoration, promising that the coming deliverance from exile will be even greater than the Exodus from Egypt.
This chapter uses the name Yahweh (the LORD), highlighting God’s covenant-keeping nature. The lesson is that God’s covenant blessings are tied to faithfulness—when the people persist in idolatry, they break that covenant and invite judgment. However, God’s ultimate plan is redemptive, showing that His discipline aims to restore His people to Himself.
Jeremiah 17
Jeremiah 17 reveals God as the all-knowing searcher of hearts who perfectly understands human motives and intentions. He is the source of true blessing for those who trust in Him and the righteous Judge who repays each person according to their deeds. His commands, such as honoring the Sabbath, show His care for His people’s spiritual health and covenant relationship.
The name Yahweh (the LORD) appears here, and in verse 14 Jeremiah calls Him Yahweh Ropheka (“LORD, my healer”), expressing trust in God’s power to restore. The lesson is that trust in God, rather than in human strength, leads to life and fruitfulness. God alone can heal the deceitful heart, and obedience to His ways—especially honoring His covenant commands—brings lasting blessing.
Jeremiah 18
In Jeremiah 18, God is portrayed as the Master Potter with absolute authority over the clay, shaping it according to His will. He is patient and willing to reshape and redeem those who repent, but He will also bring judgment when rebellion persists. His sovereignty is not rigid but responsive—He changes His dealings based on the people’s choices.
This chapter uses the name Yahweh (the LORD), emphasizing His covenant lordship and creative power. The lesson is that God has the right to shape lives and nations for His purposes. Our response to His shaping—either surrender or resistance—determines whether we experience His blessing or His discipline.
Christ in Every Book of the Bible
Christ is the theme throughout the Bible. From Genesis to Revelation, God reveals His Son, Jesus Christ.
Christ is the Seed of the woman Genesis 3:14 , He is the Passover Lamb Exodus 12:3, The Atoning Sacrifice Leviticus 17:11, The Smitten Rock Numbers 20:8, 11, The Faithful Prophet Deuteronomy 18:18, Christ is the Captain of the Lord's Host Joshua 5:15, The Divine Deliverer Judges 2:18, The Kinsman Redeemer Ruth 3:12, Christ is the anticipated as the Anointed One,1 Samuel 2:10, The Son of David 2 Samuel 7:14, The Coming King 1 & 2 Kings, Builder of the Temple 1 & 2 Chronicles (1 Chronicles 28:20), Ezra represents Christ as the Restorer of the Nation Ezra 6:14, 15, Nehemiah shows Him as the Restorer of the Temple Nehemiah 6:15, and Esther portrays Him as the Preserver of the Nation Ester 4:14, Christ is seen as the Living Redeemer Job 19:25, The Praise of Israel Psalm 150:6, The Wisdom of God Proverbs 8:22, 23, The Great Teacher Ecclesiastics 12:11, The Fairest of Ten Thousand Song of Solomon 5:10. Christ is the Suffering Servant Isaiah 53:11, The Maker of the New Covenant Jeremiah 31:31, The Man of Sorrows Lamentations 3:28-30, The Glory of God Ezekiel 43:2, The coming Messiah Daniel 9:25, The Lover of the Unfaithful Hosea 3:1, The Hope of Israel Joel 3:16, The Husbandman Amos 9:13, the Savior Obadiah 21, the Resurrected One Jonah 2:10, the Ruler in Israel Micah 5:2, the Avenger Nahum 2:1, the Holy God Habakkuk 1:13, the King of Israel Zephaniah 3:15, the Desire of Nations Haggai 2:7, the Righteous Branch Zechariah 3:8, and the Sun of Righteousness Malachi 4:2.
The King of the Jews Matthew 2:2, the Servant of the Lord Mark 10:45, the Son of Man Luke 19:10, and the Son of God John 1:1. Christ is the Ascended Lord Acts 1:10, the believer's Righteousness Romans 1:17, Sanctification 1 Corinthians 1:30, Sufficiency 2 Corinthians 12:9, and Liberty Galatians 2:4. He is the Exalted Head of the church Ephesians 1:22, the Christian's Joy Philippians 1:26, and the Fullness of Deity Colossians 2:9. In the Thessalonian epistles Christ is the believer's Comfort 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17 and Glory 2 Thessalonians 1:12. The Christian's Preserver 1 Timothy 4:10, Rewarder 2 Timothy 4:8, Blessed Hope Titus 2:13, and Substitute Philemon 17. He is the High Priest Hebrews 4:15, the Giver of Wisdom James 1:5, the Rock 1 Peter 2:6, and Precious Promise 2 Peter 1:4. John represents Christ as the Life 1 John, the Truth 2 John, and the Way 3 John, Jude portrays Christ as the Advocate and Revelation shows Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords Revelation 19:16. The whole Bible is literally all about Christ!
Questions:
Let's expand how these chapters expanded your faith and your relationship with God.
Questions About God's Character: What do these chapters reveal about God’s faithfulness to His word and promises?
How does God’s command for Jeremiah not to marry in Jeremiah 16 reveal His role as a communicator of coming judgment?
What does God’s promise of a future restoration in Jeremiah 16 show about His mercy?
How does Jeremiah 17 portray God’s knowledge of the human heart?
What does God’s use of blessing and curse imagery in Jeremiah 17 teach about His justice?
How does the image of the potter in Jeremiah 18 reveal God’s sovereignty over nations?
What do these chapters show about God’s willingness to relent from judgment if people repent?
How does God’s covenant faithfulness remain evident even in the midst of His discipline?
Questions About Themes:
How does Jeremiah 16 use the prophet’s personal life as a symbolic message to the nation?
What is the significance of God comparing the coming deliverance to a second, greater Exodus?
How does Jeremiah 17 contrast trust in man versus trust in God?
What does the “tree planted by water” image in Jeremiah 17 teach about spiritual stability?
How does Jeremiah 18’s potter-and-clay analogy explain God’s right to shape nations?
In what ways do these chapters show that God’s actions toward His people are responsive to their choices?
How do these passages demonstrate that sin has both personal and national consequences?
Reflective Application Questions:
What steps can you take to ensure your life communicates God’s truth, as Jeremiah’s did in chapter 16?
How does remembering God’s past deliverance encourage you to trust Him for the future?
In what areas might you be relying more on human strength than on God’s provision?
How can you daily root yourself in God like the tree planted by water in Jeremiah 17?
In what ways might God be reshaping your life right now, as the potter reshapes the clay?
How will you respond when God’s shaping process feels uncomfortable or challenging?
What changes can you make today to align your heart and actions more fully with God’s purposes?
These questions can help deepen understanding of the themes of these chapters, while encouraging trust in God's sovereignty, justice, faithfulness, and timing. We hope thoughts to these questions invite you to reflect on your own journeys, grow in faith, and understand more about God's nature.
Reference Guides:
Life Application Study Guide
A Popular Survey of the Old Testament by Norman L. Geisler
The Power of God's Names by Tony Evans
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