The Potter
One Year Bible (Sep. 26)
Isaiah 48:12-50:11
The Potter
“Have Thine own way Lord. Have Thine own way. Thou art the potter. I am the clay. Mold me and make me after Thy will. While I am waiting, yielded and still.”
(Hymn, Have Thine Own Way, Lord, Reeves)
“Why was I born? Why did you make me this way?” (Isaiah 45:10)
Who is this potter that chooses our birth and place in life?
He exalts men to lead while calling a gentile king to do HIS being.
“This is what the LORD says-- your Redeemer and Creator: I am the LORD who made all things. I alone stretched out the heavens. Who was with me when I made the earth? I expose the false prophets as liars and make fools of fortune-tellers. I cause the wise to give bad advice., thus proving them to be fools. But I carry out the predictions of my prophets!” (44:24-26)
What titles have you heard in this study to describe the Potter?
Sovereign. The Lord of Heaven’s Armies. The Holy One of Israel. Creator. Redeemer.
What other names come to mind?
“Have Thine own way Lord. Have Thine own way. Search me and try me MASTER today. Whiter than snow Lord, wash me just now. As in Thy presence humbly I bow.” (Hymn)
Master. What about Master?
Although He was Sovereign overall, the people did not choose God as their Sovereign Master. They chose “alternatives”.
Listen to the Lord’s words to them, “I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free. Sing, O heavens, for the LORD has done this wondrous thing. Shout for joy, O depths of the earth! Break into song.” (44:22-23)
Did they “break into song”?
Many people sing praises to God when they get their way. They praise HIM on Sunday, and they serve their IDOLS 24/7 from the minute that “Elvis left the building”.
It’s not about the performance or show, but about being “the clay” and letting “the potter” be the MASTER.
I remember when my husband took a church as a senior pastor after we had been on staff at a very large church. We were used to “top-notch” everything.
We walked into our new “church plant” on our very first Sunday for him to “try out” as their Senior pastor on an Easter Sunday morning. The leaders met us at the door and turned to me and asked, “Can you lead worship today?” My thought was No. No! And NOOOOO!”
They then told me that their “worship leader” played in a bar on Saturday nights and didn’t make it that day! Hello? ( Did I say NOOOOOOO Thank you!)
I asked what they had there to use. They had one old severely out-of-tune piano, and handwritten transparencies. (Think 90’s… the dark ages!) The more I played and led the lower I sank under the piano. I felt a little like naked Isaiah walking down the street. (Oh how I wished I had listened.)
You see, I had this really weird “feeling” before I went. Well, to be honest, it was more of a repeated “prompting” that just made no sense to me at the time. I heard this, “Take music with you when you go!” This weird thought came to me on multiple occasions, but what did I need music for in a hotel?
I told the Lord, that I would listen better next time, and one year from that very Sunday we had a large musical that involved about 40 people in a production called, “The Witness”. Many came to know the Lord through this musical and I came to be a better listener...because He is the Potter!
“Have Thine own way Lord. Have Thine own way. Hold over my being absolute sway. Filled with Thy spirit till all can see. Christ only always living in me.” (Hymn)
