Experiencing the Potter
One Year Bible (Oct. 2)
Isaiah 66:1-24
Experiencing the Potter
The “Fifth Gospel of Isaiah” is both TIMELY & TIMELESS!
In the first half of the book, we saw that Isaiah speaks of God’s Government to address Israel’s sin. The second half of the book speaks of God’s Grace. We saw how this book was like a “Mini-Bible”.
There were sixty-six chapters while the Bible has sixty-six books. The book of Isaiah had two great divisions, the Government of God (Judgment) and the second half of the book is the Grace of God (salvation through the Messiah). There are 39 chapters in “The Law/Judgement” section of Isaiah just as there are 39 chapters in the Old Testament. There are 27 chapters about God’s Grace as there are 27 books in the New Testament.
Isaiah “lived in the Old Testament” age of judgment as he walked around naked proclaiming their imminent captivity, but his spirit experienced the New Testament declaring visions of the Messiah and the kingdom to come that no Jewish person could begin to fathom.
The book of Isaiah ends with the vision of the new heaven and a new earth where righteousness dwells in perfection. (Isaiah 62:1-2, 65:17, 66:22) The New Testament closes with this very same theme in Revelation 21. The similarities between Isaiah and the book of Revelation are amazing!
Within sixty-six chapters Isaiah covered the message of the entire Bible’s sixty-six books, and there are sixty-six quotes from the book of Isaiah in the Bible.
As a prophet, he spoke, “FOR GOD”. He “Forthtold the imminent message of judgment, and he also received “FORETOLD” information through visions of what was to come!
Prophets appeared in the DARKEST TIMES of History to point the REMNANT to REVIVAL and the UNRIGHTEOUS to REPENTANCE.
In the Darkest of Times Isaiah spoke repeatedly in Isaiah 60, “Let your light shine for all to see. For the glory of the LORD rises to shine on you.” (60:1)
He also tells the people, “For the Lord will be your everlasting light.” (60:20)
How do these opposite themes of judgment and grace fit together?
Do you know that one of the most difficult things for all humans to wrap their minds around is the issue of a “Good God allowing pain and suffering?” We don’t understand it “as clay”…
The book of Job and the book of Isaiah are perfectly lined up together. Not only that, but the book of Jeremiah, which is next, will also continue the important theme presented in Isaiah, “He is the Potter, and we are the clay.”
He is Sovereign and we are His servants. Satan didn’t humbly bow before God. He wanted equality. The Jews worshipped idols instead of worshipping the Sovereign God. But, there is only ONE GOD, and we’re not to strive to be equal!
“Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker--an earthenware vessel among the vessels of earth! Will the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you doing Or the thing you are making say, ‘He has no hand’? (45:9)
God’s people didn’t get it and they constantly rebelled. In fact, they rebelled right into captivity.
Isaiah got it! He encountered God in His Heavens and was called to proclaim the news to God’s erring people. But, before he could do that he encountered God’s brilliant radiance. It was more beautiful, pure, and holy than he could comprehend.
Isaiah’s vision reminded me of Job’s encounter with Sovereign God when he said, “I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.” (Job 42: 5-6)
Remember Job’s experience in seeing God? Isaiah sees “the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above the throne stood the Seraphims… Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” (Is. 6)
Isaiah’s response, “Woe is me! For I am lost and a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” (v. 5)
Like the book of Job, Isaiah helps to adjust our focus. We are the “Clay”. He is the “Potter”.
We try to bring the Potter down to our level, but He is the maker, designer, creator, and sustainer of the universe and He has created each of us to be part of accomplishing HIS purposes, a far grander plan. We will never understand our role as the “Clay” until we too catch a greater vision of “The Potter”.
Have you “Experienced the Potter” with your own eyes?
What verse or passage has spoken to you and why? I would love to read your comments.
Praise God for a book that is Timeless and Timely… He is the Potter; we are the Clay!
