Jeremiah 19 -- When Only Breaking Us Will Do The Job

In the last chapter, Jeremiah watched a potter working with clay that was resistant but still malleable.  This time, Jeremiah was told to take the leaders with him to the potter, and to buy a clay jar that had already been fired and was ready for sale.  God directed him to take the clay jar to the Potsherd Gate leading out of the city to the garbage dump.  He there declared God's pronounced judgment on them because of their unrepentant attitude toward their sins.  God promised right then and there that disaster was coming on Jerusalem and Judah and that Jerusalem and the nation would be destroyed.  Jeremiah was told to preach the sermon again at the Temple, and then to smash to clay jar to illustrate what God was about to do.  

My commentary said, "The nation was beyond discipline, beyond prayer, and now, beyond repair!  They had so hardened themselves against the Lord that all hope was gone ... Can nations and individuals sin so greatly that even God can't restore them?  Yes, they can.  As long as the clay is pliable in the hands of the potter, he can make it again if it's marred, but when the clay becomes hard, it's too late to re-form it.  Judgment is the only response to willful apostasy ... 'There is a sin unto death.' (1 John 5:16)."

Father God, I once walked away from You despite all You'd done to bless me, and I thank You for seeing that my heart was still pliable and also for pursuing me until You brought me back to Yourself.  Please do that for those I love.  Soften their hearts.  Cause them to see that You are pursuing them out of love, and lead them to repentance as well.

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

(Note:  This was written on October 5th, but for some reason held as a draft.  I'm putting it out again since it didn't seem to get published.)