5 Then the word of the Lord came to me saying , 6 "Can I not, O house of Israel , deal with you as this potter does?" declares the Lord . "Behold , like the clay in the potter's hand , so are you in My hand , O house of Israel . 7 "At one moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to uproot , to pull down , or to destroy it; 8 if that nation against which I have spoken turns from its evil , I will relent concerning the calamity I planned to bring on it. 9 "Or at another moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to build up or to plant it; 10 if it does evil in My sight by not obeying My voice , then I will think better of the good with which I had promised to bless it.
11 "So now then, speak to the men of Judah and against the inhabitants of Jerusalem saying , 'Thus says the Lord , "Behold , I am fashioning calamity against you and devising a plan against you. Oh turn back , each of you from his evil way , and reform your ways and your deeds ."' 12 "But they will say , 'It's hopeless ! For we are going to follow e our own plans , and each of us will act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart .'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Jeremiah 18:5-12
Commentary on Jeremiah 18:1-10
(Read Jeremiah 18:1-10)
While Jeremiah looks upon the potter's work, God darts into his mind two great truths. God has authority, and power, to form and fashion kingdoms and nations as he pleases. He may dispose of us as he thinks fit; and it would be as absurd for us to dispute this, as for the clay to quarrel with the potter. But he always goes by fixed rules of justice and goodness. When God is coming against us in judgments, we may be sure it is for our sins; but sincere conversion from the evil of sin will prevent the evil of punishment, as to persons, and to families, and nations.
Commentary on Jeremiah 18:11-17
(Read Jeremiah 18:11-17)
Sinners call it liberty to live at large; whereas for a man to be a slave to his lusts, is the very worst slavery. They forsook God for idols. When men are parched with heat, and meet with cooling, refreshing streams, they use them. In these things men will not leave a certainty for an uncertainty; but Israel left the ancient paths appointed by the Divine law. They walked not in the highway, in which they might travel safely, but in a way in which they must stumble: such was the way of idolatry, and such is the way of iniquity. This made their land desolate, and themselves miserable. Calamities may be borne, if God smile upon us when under them; but if he is displeased, and refuses his help, we are undone. Multitudes forget the Lord and his Christ, and wander from the ancient paths, to walk in ways of their own devising. But what will they do in the day of judgment!