POTTER

Mention of the potter and his trade occurs in several Old Testament contexts, notably in Isaiah 29.16 and Jeremiah 18.1-6. The skilful potter has complete control over the vessels he forms whether they are destined for noble or common use, 2 Tim. 2.20. All of the potter’s activities are creative and purposeful; no vessel is formed simply to be destroyed. In our text, the designation of the merciful God as the potter emphasizes His absolute sovereignty in respect of His dealings with men.

We see this illustrated historically in relation to Pharaoh, and in the present of unbelieving Israel. Having first hardened his heart in response to God’s command, Exod. 8. 32, Pharaoh subsequently experienced divine hardening, thus becoming a vessel of wrath. A similar fate has overtaken Israel in her opposition to the gospel. It is noteworthy however, that even the constitution of some as vessels of wrath has a merciful purpose. In the case of Rahab and her fellow-citizens, they had heard what great things God had done against Egypt and the Amorites, Josh. 2.10, and were thus moved to fear.

By contrast, others, both Jews and Gentiles, are described as vessels of mercy, that is, they are examples to the world of the wonder of divine mercy. To become such, they first had to be prepared to accept the mercy of God in salvation. Yet that was not the beginning of the matter; Paul refers to the active and gracious eternal purpose of God, Rom. 9. 23. A significant difference is discernable in relation to the vessels of wrath, where they are said to have been ‘fitted to destruction’. The implication is that God cannot be charged with responsibility for their fate. No potter creates vessels in order to capriciously destroy them. The conclusion of the present argument of Paul is that after long centuries during which many in Israel will be vessels of wrath, God’s mercy will ultimately triumph, Rom. 11. 32.

Mercy has been defined as pity in action; cf. Luke 10. 37. As believers we need to remember our debt to the mercy of the heavenly Potter. May that mercy exercise a decisive constraint on our lives, enabling us to be fit vessels of display and service 2 Tim. 2. 21.