Message delivered by David McDowell on 21 August, 2011

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As we start 2008 I am reminded of the words of Jeremiah and the lessons that we can learn in the potter’s house. The vessel is marred in the potter’s hands and so he sees him make it again into another vessel as it seemed good to in his eyes.  It was then he heard the word of the Lord . . .

Jer 18:6  “Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand”

The Wheel The potter’s wheel consisted of two parallel stone or clay wheels connected by a shaft. As the potter moved the lower wheel with his bare feet, the upper wheel revolved smoothly.  As we commence another year,  we may be feeling just like we are on the wheel, going around and around.  Remember the wheel is being controlled by our Master Potter.  Isa 64:8  But now, O LORD, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand.

The Clay The potter carefully selects the material that He works with but before it is worked it needs to be prepared.  Impurities are removed, coarse particles can be added, it is tossed over and over on a flat stone, kneaded, rolled and may be cut to form the right sized lump.  Sometimes we need to remember that we are only clay and the potter has amazingly chosen us and is working with us in all of our circumstances to prepare us to be moulded. Job 10:9  Remember, I pray, that You have made me like clay.

The Potter What skill it takes to throw a pot, and what honour is brought to the master craftsman as a result of his amazing workmanship.  The skilled potter reminds us of our infinite, wise, all knowing God who is working an amazing work in you and I – to Him be the glory!  Isa 29:16 “Shall the potter be esteemed as the clay”

The Vessel If we look around our home, we have all sorts of vessels, for all different purposes.  From an egg cup to an ornately decorated cake plate each has been specifically designed for a purpose.  Even those that fail are made it into a vessel “as it seemed good to the potter”.  What is God making you into this year?  Ti 2:21  If anyone cleanses himself…., he will be a vessel for honour, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.

The Potters Hand Finally be encouraged by the word of the Lord to Jeremiah.  We are in the hand of the potter – whatever this year brings, joy or sorrow or victory or defeat.  He is doing a tremendous work, making known the riches of His glory on His vessels of mercy – that’s us.  John 10:28-30  And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.” May our 2008 resolution be.

Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.
Mould me and make me after Thy will,
While I am waiting, yielded and still.
-Adelaide Pollard

It’s been a quest for the ages. Thousands of generations have lived and died without finding the ultimate answer. Millions have spent their entire life rummaging around for that precious jewel lost in the dark valley somewhere. Their search sounds quite simple at first. All they want to find out is the Meaning, Purpose and Reason for life. But the answer has been ever so elusive that most never have been able to grab a hold of it.

The Teacher, as the author of Ecclesiastes likes to call himself, is on a similar mission. He is out to settle the issue once and for all. He begins his explorations with the typical themes, knocking on familiar doors.

Wisdom is the first on his list. Being the wisest man, wiser than all his predecessors, he was sure he would find something of value. But he wasn’t satisfied with the solutions. He exclaims, “For with much wisdom comes much sorrow, the more knowledge, the more grief.” (Eccl 1:18). Disappointed and confused, he now enters through the golden gates of pleasure. But soon discovers that the only pomp is the one on the outside. Inside, he was unable to find anything of lasting significance. The teacher says, “I said of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is it?” (Eccl 2:2) He went right around the boulevard of life, knocking on every door, hoping to find at least the slightest clue towards the answer.

He learns that wealth doesn’t deliver what it promises. People with wealth still try to amass more, as contentment always seem to elude them. In his lifetime, he found out that justice doesn’t always come to the rescue of the sufferer, leaving the wicked to prosper while the poor suffer.

Could it be popularity? Could fame be the key? But the wise teacher presently waves his sign of disapproval. About such a person he says, “He might become the leader of millions and be very popular. But then the next generation grows up and rejects him! So again, it is all meaningless, like chasing the wind.” (Eccl 4:16) At this point, one might wonder if there is any meaning, purpose or reason to be found after all.

If the reader perseveres and continues through the book, at the very end the author decides to take the veil off this great mystery. He carefully writes it down: “Fear God and obey His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” (Eccl 12:13) At the end of his extensive search, the teacher gets it. Sometimes a thing could be so simple that you’ll miss it even if you bump into it face on.

But don’t be mistaken. This wasn’t the preacher’s idea or some complex calculations that made him draw this conclusion. About 400 years before he was even born, Moses cries out the same words to the Israelites, who are waiting to cross the Jordan into the promised land. He gave it to them as an eternal decree from God, for their own good.

But what does it mean to fear God? Are we not supposed to love him instead? Does it apply to us, the New Testament believers? Could this have been meant only for the people of old?

We’ll attempt to look a bit deeper into what it means in the next issue.