陶匠與泥The Potter and the Clay


[WOTS]
7/6/2018


                                      陶匠與泥The Potter and the Clay                     7/08/2018

Jeremiah 耶利米書18:1-12

July 8, 2018, Session 6, Unit 1: Jeremiah/Lamentations

Worldwide Outreach Teaching School 賴美滿 校長

https://www.WorldwideOTS.org

 

 

前言Preface: 耶利米之探訪陶匠製陶，他對以色列百姓之期待比喻陶匠的工作是使我們學到認罪回到上帝的計畫裡。是的，上帝雖計畫懲處罪人，但祂也計畫憐憫那些悔改的人。請繼續讀經可了解！我們發現在困難中，都有信心面對著神給我們的計畫，並且在任何情況下都有祂給我們能力之應許。Jeremiah visits a potter’s house and he gives hope to the people of Israel with a message about a potter; what Jeremiah saw and heard in the potter’s house caused that the potter at work became a study lessen for him and for us, it is full of reminders that people and nations can repent of their sin and turn to God. Yes, God has planned judgment against sin, but He has equally planned mercy for those who turn from sin. Find out more about this welcoming event in later discussions.  We examined that even during difficulties, we can have confidence that God’s plans are being worked out and that in every situation we have God’s promise of strength.

 

上週Last Week: 上週看到對上帝的信心和服從，在生命中並沒安全的打破困境。We saw that faithful obedience to God was no safeguard against conflict and trouble in this life.

這週This Week: 我們將看到上帝是最高之統治者，但祂給人類有自由選擇。我們將讀經文和經上的評語使更瞭解。We will see that God is sovereign, but works with human freedom as He interacts with the world. We read verse-by-verse commentary on the Scripture passage.  Let’s read!

 

  1. This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD :
  2. "Go down to the potter's house, and there I will give you my message."
  3. So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel.
  4. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.
  5. Then the word of the LORD came to me:
  1. 耶和華的話臨到耶利米說、
  2. 你起來、下到兠匠的家裡去、我在那裡要使你聽我的話。
  3. 我就下到兠匠的家裡去、正遇他轉輪做器皿。
  4. 兠匠用泥作的器皿、在他手中做壞了、他又用這泥另作別的器皿．兠匠看怎樣好、就怎樣作。
  5. 耶和華的話就臨到我說、

 

 

 
  1. "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?" declares the LORD. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.
  2. If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed,
  3. and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned.
  4. And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted,
  5. and if it does evil in my sight and does not obey me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended to do for it.
  1. 耶和華說、以色列家阿、我待你們、豈不能照這兠匠弄泥麼．以色列家阿、泥在兠匠的手中怎樣、你們在我的手中也怎樣。
  2. 我何時論到一邦、或一國、說、要拔出、拆毀、毀壞。
  3. 我所說的那一邦、若是轉意離開他們的惡、我就必後悔、不將我想要施行的災禍降與他們。
  4. 我何時論到一邦、或一國、說、要建立、栽植．
  5. 他們若行我眼中看為惡的事、不聽從我的話、我就必後悔、不將我所說的福氣賜給他們。

 

 

 
  1. "Now therefore say to the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem, 'This is what the LORD says: Look! I am preparing a disaster for you and devising a plan against you. So turn from your evil ways, each one of you, and reform your ways and your actions.'
  2. But they will reply, 'It's no use. We will continue with our own plans; each of us will follow the stubbornness of his evil heart.' "

A. The key word “was marred.” v.4 Read Jeremiah 18:1-4, The parables in these chapters, illustrate God’s sovereignty over the nation. God has power over the clay (Judah), and he continues to work with it to make it a useful vessel. But Judah must soon repent, or the clay will harden the wrong way. Then it will be worth nothing and will be broken and destroyed.

 

 

God’s mercy (v.4), with God there is always a second chance.

 

Jeremiah charged Judah’s leaders with caring only for themselves; even as church leaders, we need to ask ourselves from time to time whether we care more for our own interests than we do for God’s people. If our answer is, “Yes,” we have repenting to do.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

B. GOD’S Range for Choices Jeremiah 18:5-10,

Judah certainly would have heard Jeremiah’s announcement of God’s disciplines.

God had appointed Jeremiah to a six-fold prophetic task: “to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant” (1:10). God sets before Judah and her leaders their choice between destruction and renewal.

 

God’s Sovereignty (v.6): God has lordship over everything and everyone He has created.

 

Human freedom (vv.7-8): Unlike the clay, which is passive, our response does effect the manner in which God’s sovereignty is expressed.

 

Wesleyan theology understands God created the universe and its inhabitants for flourishing in wholeness (shalom). But evil is hostile to the flourishing for which God created. Put positively, flourishing is the product of love with integrity as the basis of relational interaction. Evil spread too widely and deeply destroys the flourishing of communities and even of cultures. To choose good things, on the other hand, is to choose the flourishing of what God intends, and we may be sure God attends to the ultimate flourishing of all God’s creation. In Jeremiah’s day, the choice was Judah’s. In our day, the choice is ours.

C. 猶大國的 Range for Choices Jeremiah 18:11-12, God sent him to set this choice before Judah. Verse 11b highlights the moment with poignant urgency, “I am shaping against you a disaster, and devising against you a plan. Turn, please, each one from his wicked way, and make good your ways and your works!” With Verse. God gave Jeremiah time to steel himself against Judah’s rejection— But they replied, 'It's no use. We will continue with our own plans; each of us will follow the stubbornness of his evil heart.'  

"Some years after, Judah perished in successive Babylonian invasions. Many Judeans died; those carried into exile never saw Jerusalem again. For decades God laid aside the “marred” lump of clay called Judah. But God, like the potter, did begin again, and fashioned a new work.

God is gracious like that. Do you know God’s reshaping in your own life? If not, it is never too late.

Verses 12, If all of us to do whatever we like to do with own plan and stubborn to change the evil heart, then what will be happened in this world?

D. Conclusion: We are invited to participate with the Divine Potter to become the kind of vessel God can use for His glory.

                     If your life marred, (means flawed, impaired of its true quality, or the problem went deeper). Human beings, just like this particular clay, have been marred by sin and in need of being refashioned by our Maker, (Creator). We must be willing to surrender to God, inviting Him to shape all areas of our lives for His holy purposes.

God’s grace is evident in the idea of shaping the clay. Yet, His wisdom is evident in the idea of destroying and remaking the clay. We see that God’s ultimate purposes are always fulfilled, but human cooperation is essential to His Plans.

This scripture passage reminds us that God wants to mold our lives so that we might be instruments for His glory in the world. Yet, when we choose to disregard the invitation of God to follow His ways, we invite disaster. Either way, God is sovereign and is able to creatively respond to human sin and transf

                                      The Potter and the Clay陶匠與泥                     7/08/2018

Jeremiah 耶利米書18:1-12

July 8, 2018, Session 6, Unit 1: Jeremiah/Lamentations

Worldwide Outreach Teaching School 賴美滿 校長

https://www.WorldwideOTS.org

 

 

前言Preface: 耶利米之探訪陶匠製陶，他對以色列百姓之期待比喻陶匠的工作是使我們學到認罪回到上帝的計畫裡。是的，上帝雖計畫懲處罪人，但祂也計畫憐憫那些悔改的人。請繼續讀經可了解！我們發現在困難中，都有信心面對著神給我們的計畫，並且在任何情況下都有祂給我們能力之應許。Jeremiah visits a potter’s house and he gives hope to the people of Israel with a message about a potter; what Jeremiah saw and heard in the potter’s house caused that the potter at work became a study lessen for him and for us, it is full of reminders that people and nations can repent of their sin and turn to God. Yes, God has planned judgment against sin, but He has equally planned mercy for those who turn from sin. Find out more about this welcoming event in later discussions.  We examined that even during difficulties, we can have confidence that God’s plans are being worked out and that in every situation we have God’s promise of strength.

 

上週Last Week: 上週看到對上帝的信心和服從，在生命中並沒安全的打破困境。We saw that faithful obedience to God was no safeguard against conflict and trouble in this life.

這週This Week: 我們將看到上帝是最高之統治者，但祂給人類有自由選擇。我們將讀經文和經上的評語使更瞭解。We will see that God is sovereign, but works with human freedom as He interacts with the world. We read verse-by-verse commentary on the Scripture passage.  Let’s read!

 

  1. This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD :
  2. "Go down to the potter's house, and there I will give you my message."
  3. So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel.
  4. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.
  5. Then the word of the LORD came to me:
  1. 耶和華的話臨到耶利米說、
  2. 你起來、下到兠匠的家裡去、我在那裡要使你聽我的話。
  3. 我就下到兠匠的家裡去、正遇他轉輪做器皿。
  4. 兠匠用泥作的器皿、在他手中做壞了、他又用這泥另作別的器皿．兠匠看怎樣好、就怎樣作。
  5. 耶和華的話就臨到我說、

 

 

 
  1. "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?" declares the LORD. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.
  2. If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed,
  3. and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned.
  4. And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted,
  5. and if it does evil in my sight and does not obey me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended to do for it.
  1. 耶和華說、以色列家阿、我待你們、豈不能照這兠匠弄泥麼．以色列家阿、泥在兠匠的手中怎樣、你們在我的手中也怎樣。
  2. 我何時論到一邦、或一國、說、要拔出、拆毀、毀壞。
  3. 我所說的那一邦、若是轉意離開他們的惡、我就必後悔、不將我想要施行的災禍降與他們。
  4. 我何時論到一邦、或一國、說、要建立、栽植．
  5. 他們若行我眼中看為惡的事、不聽從我的話、我就必後悔、不將我所說的福氣賜給他們。

 

 

 
  1. "Now therefore say to the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem, 'This is what the LORD says: Look! I am preparing a disaster for you and devising a plan against you. So turn from your evil ways, each one of you, and reform your ways and your actions.'
  2. But they will reply, 'It's no use. We will continue with our own plans; each of us will follow the stubbornness of his evil heart.' "

A. The key word “was marred.” v.4 Read Jeremiah 18:1-4, The parables in these chapters, illustrate God’s sovereignty over the nation. God has power over the clay (Judah), and he continues to work with it to make it a useful vessel. But Judah must soon repent, or the clay will harden the wrong way. Then it will be worth nothing and will be broken and destroyed.

 

 

God’s mercy (v.4), with God there is always a second chance.

 

Jeremiah charged Judah’s leaders with caring only for themselves; even as church leaders, we need to ask ourselves from time to time whether we care more for our own interests than we do for God’s people. If our answer is, “Yes,” we have repenting to do.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

B. GOD’S Range for Choices Jeremiah 18:5-10,

Judah certainly would have heard Jeremiah’s announcement of God’s disciplines.

God had appointed Jeremiah to a six-fold prophetic task: “to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant” (1:10). God sets before Judah and her leaders their choice between destruction and renewal.

 

God’s Sovereignty (v.6): God has lordship over everything and everyone He has created.

 

Human freedom (vv.7-8): Unlike the clay, which is passive, our response does effect the manner in which God’s sovereignty is expressed.

 

Wesleyan theology understands God created the universe and its inhabitants for flourishing in wholeness (shalom). But evil is hostile to the flourishing for which God created. Put positively, flourishing is the product of love with integrity as the basis of relational interaction. Evil spread too widely and deeply destroys the flourishing of communities and even of cultures. To choose good things, on the other hand, is to choose the flourishing of what God intends, and we may be sure God attends to the ultimate flourishing of all God’s creation. In Jeremiah’s day, the choice was Judah’s. In our day, the choice is ours.

C. 猶大國的 Range for Choices Jeremiah 18:11-12, God sent him to set this choice before Judah. Verse 11b highlights the moment with poignant urgency, “I am shaping against you a disaster, and devising against you a plan. Turn, please, each one from his wicked way, and make good your ways and your works!” With Verse. God gave Jeremiah time to steel himself against Judah’s rejection— But they replied, 'It's no use. We will continue with our own plans; each of us will follow the stubbornness of his evil heart.'  

"Some years after, Judah perished in successive Babylonian invasions. Many Judeans died; those carried into exile never saw Jerusalem again. For decades God laid aside the “marred” lump of clay called Judah. But God, like the potter, did begin again, and fashioned a new work.

God is gracious like that. Do you know God’s reshaping in your own life? If not, it is never too late.

Verses 12, If all of us to do whatever we like to do with own plan and stubborn to change the evil heart, then what will be happened in this world?

D. Conclusion: We are invited to participate with the Divine Potter to become the kind of vessel God can use for His glory.

                     If your life marred, (means flawed, impaired of its true quality, or the problem went deeper). Human beings, just like this particular clay, have been marred by sin and in need of being refashioned by our Maker, (Creator). We must be willing to surrender to God, inviting Him to shape all areas of our lives for His holy purposes.

God’s grace is evident in the idea of shaping the clay. Yet, His wisdom is evident in the idea of destroying and remaking the clay. We see that God’s ultimate purposes are always fulfilled, but human cooperation is essential to His Plans.

This scripture passage reminds us that God wants to mold our lives so that we might be instruments for His glory in the world. Yet, when we choose to disregard the invitation of God to follow His ways, we invite disaster. Either way, God is sovereign and is able to creatively respond to human sin and transform us.
  1. 現在你要對猶大人、和耶路撒冷的居民說、耶和華如此說、我造出災禍攻擊你們、定意刑罰你們．你們各人當回頭離開所行的惡道、改正你們的行動作為。
  2. 他們卻說、這是枉然．我們要照自己的計謀去行．各人隨自己頑梗的惡心作事。

 

 

A. 鑰匙字是如陶匠 “作壞了”v.4     請讀耶利米書18:1-4, 這些比喻意思是上帝對猷大國有絕對的主權。祂繼續如陶匠般的弄泥，泥指的是猷大國，上帝要建設猷大國如弄泥般的成為有用的器皿，但猷大國必須立刻悔改，否則，如泥般的會硬化變形，因此，失去了價值和破裂而被丟棄。

 

第四句，上帝是有憐憫的：時刻與祂同在總是有讓您悔改的機會。

 

耶利米歸罪於猶大國的領導者僅為自己；如教會的領導者我們必常自問是為自己或為

 

 

 

 

 

 

B. 上帝的 Range for Choices

         耶利米書18:5-10,

猷大國切實有聽到耶利米轉告上帝的管教. 上帝呼召耶利米說出六個預兆〝看哪、我今日立你在列邦列國之上、為要施行拔出、拆毀、毀壞、傾覆、又要建立和栽植。上帝給猷大國和其領導者選擇拆毀或建立。

Human freedom (vv.7-8): 不像
‘泥’是被動的，有了上帝的統治權顯揚和影響了我們的好回應。

衛斯理教派神學認知上帝創造宇宙與使其居民興隆和平安。但魔鬼是敵對上帝所創造繁茂和平安；當然！繁茂是廉潔愛的果子，是基本的人際關係。魔鬼甚至於深遠的破壞了繁茂和愛的社區與文化，要選擇切實是繁茂和好的由上帝所創造的。在耶利米時期，猶大國被選上；在我們的時代，選擇權是我們的。

 

 

 

C. 猶大國的 Range for Choices        耶 利米書18:11-12 上帝送耶利米去 說讓猶大國選擇； 11b, “你們各人當回頭離開所行的惡道、改正你們的行動作為”. 與第12句, 上帝給耶利米時間堅固自己應付猶大國的拒絕，但他們卻說、這是枉然．我們要照自己的計謀去行．各人隨自己頑梗的惡心作事。(v.12)

幾年後，猶大國被巴比倫人之浸氾，許多猶大國人死亡，沒法再見耶路撒冷。數十年上帝如陶匠組合一團的泥再次開始呼召猶大國的新工作。

上帝是如此仁慈的態度，您可知上帝再次的計畫從新您的生命嗎？如您未知，是永不太遲的。

第十二句意旨繼續想做就去做，倘若人人都如此，硬心不做任何的改變錯的心態，那麼世界會變成怎樣呢？

 

D. 結論：您和我被邀請成為那神聖、超級、非凡、善良的器皿給神用來榮耀上帝聖名。

  您的生命若有缺陷做神的器皿、人類如同泥(clay)，是有缺陷、有罪時，需要我們的 造物主 上帝 再造我們成為以適合神的器皿給神用來榮耀上帝的聖名。我們必須降服於上帝，請祂近入我們的心以改變我們的生命來迎合祂的目標。

 

上帝的恩典很明顯的如泥製作模型之觀念。上帝的智慧很明顯的如泥做不好再重作的觀念。我們可看見上帝的最終目標總是會被完成的，但為了達成目的地，人們是必須與祂合作的。

這斷經文提醒我們，上帝要鑄模我們的生命，在世界上能榮耀祂的名的工具。但是，當我們選擇不尊重祂的邀請去跟隨祂的方針，我們等於邀請了災禍入門。上帝也有統治權 (v.6) 有統治祂所創造的人的罪或善改我們。

orm us.
  1. 現在你要對猶大人、和耶路撒冷的居民說、耶和華如此說、我造出災禍攻擊你們、定意刑罰你們．你們各人當回頭離開所行的惡道、改正你們的行動作為。
  2. 他們卻說、這是枉然．我們要照自己的計謀去行．各人隨自己頑梗的惡心作事。

 

 

A. 鑰匙字是如陶匠 “作壞了”v.4     請讀耶利米書18:1-4, 這些比喻意思是上帝對猷大國有絕對的主權。祂繼續如陶匠般的弄泥，泥指的是猷大國，上帝要建設猷大國如弄泥般的成為有用的器皿，但猷大國必須立刻悔改，否則，如泥般的會硬化變形，因此，失去了價值和破裂而被丟棄。

 

第四句，上帝是有憐憫的：時刻與祂同在總是有讓您悔改的機會。

 

耶利米歸罪於猶大國的領導者僅為自己；如教會的領導者我們必常自問是為自己或為

 

 

 

 

 

 

B. 上帝的 Range for Choices

         耶利米書18:5-10,

猷大國切實有聽到耶利米轉告上帝的管教. 上帝呼召耶利米說出六個預兆〝看哪、我今日立你在列邦列國之上、為要施行拔出、拆毀、毀壞、傾覆、又要建立和栽植。上帝給猷大國和其領導者選擇拆毀或建立。

Human freedom (vv.7-8): 不像
‘泥’是被動的，有了上帝的統治權顯揚和影響了我們的好回應。

衛斯理教派神學認知上帝創造宇宙與使其居民興隆和平安。但魔鬼是敵對上帝所創造繁茂和平安；當然！繁茂是廉潔愛的果子，是基本的人際關係。魔鬼甚至於深遠的破壞了繁茂和愛的社區與文化，要選擇切實是繁茂和好的由上帝所創造的。在耶利米時期，猶大國被選上；在我們的時代，選擇權是我們的。

 

 

 

C. 猶大國的 Range for Choices        耶 利米書18:11-12 上帝送耶利米去 說讓猶大國選擇； 11b, “你們各人當回頭離開所行的惡道、改正你們的行動作為”. 與第12句, 上帝給耶利米時間堅固自己應付猶大國的拒絕，但他們卻說、這是枉然．我們要照自己的計謀去行．各人隨自己頑梗的惡心作事。(v.12)

幾年後，猶大國被巴比倫人之浸氾，許多猶大國人死亡，沒法再見耶路撒冷。數十年上帝如陶匠組合一團的泥再次開始呼召猶大國的新工作。

上帝是如此仁慈的態度，您可知上帝再次的計畫從新您的生命嗎？如您未知，是永不太遲的。

第十二句意旨繼續想做就去做，倘若人人都如此，硬心不做任何的改變錯的心態，那麼世界會變成怎樣呢？

 

D. 結論：您和我被邀請成為那神聖、超級、非凡、善良的器皿給神用來榮耀上帝聖名。

  您的生命若有缺陷做神的器皿、人類如同泥(clay)，是有缺陷、有罪時，需要我們的 造物主 上帝 再造我們成為以適合神的器皿給神用來榮耀上帝的聖名。我們必須降服於上帝，請祂近入我們的心以改變我們的生命來迎合祂的目標。

 

上帝的恩典很明顯的如泥製作模型之觀念。上帝的智慧很明顯的如泥做不好再重作的觀念。我們可看見上帝的最終目標總是會被完成的，但為了達成目的地，人們是必須與祂合作的。

這斷經文提醒我們，上帝要鑄模我們的生命，在世界上能榮耀祂的名的工具。但是，當我們選擇不尊重祂的邀請去跟隨祂的方針，我們等於邀請了災禍入門。上帝也有統治權 (v.6) 有統治祂所創造的人的罪或善改我們。