Jeremiah: Profile of Courage Chapters “The Potter, Pot, and Fire”

Jeremiah - Spring 2013 WeekTopic Mar 6Dark Prophecies: Introduction and Jeremiah 1-6 Mar 13Dark Prophecies: Jeremiah 1-6 continued Mar 20False Worship: Jeremiah 7-10 Mar 27Broken Promises, Shattered Pride: Jeremiah Apr 3Sin Carved on the Heart: Jeremiah Apr 10The Potter, Pot, and Fire: Jeremiah Apr 17A Scattered Flock: Jeremiah Apr 24God’s Law on the Heart: Jeremiah May 1Broken Covenants: Jeremiah May 8God’s Indestructible Word: Jeremiah May 15Judgment and Justice: Jeremiah May 22God’s Justice Among Nations: Jeremiah May 29Summary of Jeremiah

Today’s Objectives Review last weeks lesson, including historical setting Learn how Jeremiah used the pottery making process to illustrate Judah’s situation See how faith and discouragement were mixed in Jeremiah’s attitude toward his ministry Our individual and group ministries, though hard, are important

Review of Chapters Historical setting Understanding of why Jeremiah withdrew from common societal practices Developed a deeper understanding of why judgment was coming on Judah Appreciate the subtleties of self-deception Identify sources of water that strengthens your faith

Historical Review Prophecy in Chapter placed around 605 B.C. Political background –Temple had been rebuilt for about 16 years –King Josiah had died at Megiddo in the hands of the Egyptians, replaced by his son ( Jehoahaz), then grandson (Jehoiakim)Megiddo –Battle of Carchemish ( 605 B.C. ): Babylon ( Nebuchadnezzar ) defeats Egypt ( Necho II ) and changes the balance of power in the region.Carchemish Nebuchadnezzar Necho II –601 B.C. Babylon ( Nebuchadnezzar ) attacks Egypt (Necho) and is driven back to Babylon – Judah’s shifting alliances: Egypt then Babylon then Egypt

Nebuchadnezzar's Attacks on Jerusalem DateExtentResult 605 B.C.Quick strikeSons of noble families deported for civil service (including Daniel) 597 B.C.Major AttackKing Jehoiachin deposed; leading families and skilled workers deported (Ezekiel included) B.C.Total DestructionCity and temple destroyed; King Zedekiah blinded; all but the poor deported

Key People Jeremiah –Served the last five kings of Judah –Confidant of King Josiah ( B.C. ), King Jehoiakim ( B.C. ), and King Zedekiah ( B.C. ) –Member of a priestly family and was from Anathoth –May have descended from Abiathar, a distrusted priest –Fled to Egypt with Beruch upon destruction of Jerusalem King Josiah –“Great Reform” (2 Ki 22-23, particularly 2 Ki 23:3) – B.C. –Foremost among all the kings for unswerving loyalty to God –Rebuilding of the temple –Discovery of the law of Moses (Book of Deuteronomy)

Key People King Jehoiakim –King of Judah, B.C., corrupt and wicked –Carried off in first Babylonian captivity (2 Ch 36:6) Nebuchadnezzar –Babylonian King from B.C. –Military commander that defeated Egypt in 605 B.C. –Conquered Judah and destroyed Jerusalem in 586 B.C. Pashur –Son of Immer –“Chief Governor in the house of the Lord” i.e. “deputy” –Seraiah was Governor of the temple at that time (2Ki 25:18) –Persecuted, imprisoned Jeremiah

The Shaped Clay (18:1-12) 1 of 2 Perilous times for Judah (605 B.C. ) –Allied with Egypt after Carchemish –Babylonian Army invades –Many taken captive God directs Jeremiah to the Potter’s house –To receive a message (vss. 1-2) –Jeremiah watches the Potter’s workPotter’s work –The potter reshapes the clay (vss. 3-4) –God applies the metaphor to Judah (vss. 5-6)

Using the metaphor of a potter molding clay, what did God mean? –He held the future of Judah in his hands –He would change their future based upon what he saw –God’s blessing or judgment would come depending on the nation’s deeds (vss. 7-10) What did God decided to do? –Strike Judah with a disaster (vs. 11) –Each would follow the stubbornness of his evil heart (vs. 12) –Other uses of clay in the bible as a metaphor? The Shaped Clay (18:1-12) 2 of 2

Poetic indictment (vss 13-17) –Jeremiah contrasts the predictability of certain facts of nature with Israel’s undependability Snow, streams are constant Call, again, to get rid of Jeremiah (vs 18) Jeremiah’s prayer (vss 19-23) –Jeremiah’s seeks God’s revenge upon those who threaten him –Justice served upon those who opposed God’s message Israel’s Behavior (18:13-23)

Second trip to the Potter’s house (vs. 1) –With a delegation of elders and priests –Purchased a Potter’s clay bottle Delegation travels to the East gate and into the Valley of Ben Hinnom fires of the city dumpEast gate Valley of Ben Hinnom – Jeremiah delivers God’s message (vss. 2-3) –Describes new horrors (vss. 7-10) –Jeremiah shatters the clay bottle (vss ) –Jeremiah repeats the message in the temple (vs. 14) The Smashed Pot (19:1-15)

King Jehoiakim had Jeremiah arrested (vss. 1-3) –Pashur: priest who was the chief governor, also describe as head of the security force –Orders Jeremiah beaten and shackled –Occurs in the 21 year of Jeremiah’s ministry –Could expect nearly 20 more years of physical persecution before Judah would fall Jeremiah renames Pashur (vss. 3-6) –Pashur means “prosperity everywhere” –Jeremiah renamed him “terror on every side” –Prophesy about the doom of Pashur Physical Persecution (20:1-6)

Jeremiah feels deceived by God (vss. 7-8) –Physical abuse –Mocking, shame, ridicule –Although God had warned him (vss. 1:17-19) –Life was getting much worse than he had pictured Jeremiah felt overcome by God’s power –Despite persecution, could not hold God’s word in (vs. 9) –God instills hope against persecutors (vs. 11) –Fluctuating emotions causes continued struggels (vs ) The Suffering Prophet (20:7-18)

Review Reviewed last weeks lesson, including historical setting Learned how Jeremiah used the pottery making process to illustrate Judah’s situation Saw how faith and discouragement were mixed in Jeremiah’s attitude toward his ministry Our individual and group ministries, though hard, are important Next week Jeremiah 21-24