The Miry Clay, The Rock and The Potter

Have you ever noticed that we often get a mind picture of something and that is the only way we see it? I find my self doing that way too often. I will sing a song and get a picture in my mind from that song. Even when I read the scripture passage from which the song is taken I will reflect upon the mind picture I have from the song. I am keeping it all in a neat little box! I have realized that when I get another picture there is great excitement, it is as if I have been released to see new horizons! That is just what happened to me this week. Here, let me share.

In my daily devotions I was reading a story that got me out of my little box and let me see something from a brand-new perspective. The story teller had gone to Pakistan on a missionary visit. While he was there, he and another missionary were visiting a small village and encountered a potter. As they visited with the potter, they learned that he had studied his vocation in China being taught by an old Master Craftsman who made china. This Master had taught him everything he knew about making pottery and along with many, many years of practicing the art himself had made him a Master Craftsman as well.

The story teller had asked the potter if he would show him how to make a master piece from start to finish? The potter was very excited at their interest and agreed to show them how it was accomplished. He took them to a shed behind his house-shop. It was an old tin building that looked about to fall down. When he opened the door of the shed, a horrible stench emanated from inside. The story teller said it was all they could do to follow him inside because of the horrible smell.

Inside there was a large pit full of muck and mire. The potter explained that this is where it all started for the master piece. He went on to explain that he added certain types of grass to the mud and as they decomposed they made added to the clay staying together, this gluing effect is called colloidal. He went on to explain that this mix was mixed together by him walking in the pit and mixing it with his feet. He then reached down into the mire and searched until he found a lump of clay that suited his purpose.

The clay was taken back to an area behind his house where there was a large round rock. Very carefully he placed the clay in the center of the rock. He was very careful to find the center of the rock before proceeding any further. He then sat on a stool and with a foot treadle began to turn the rock. He would dip his hands in water and as the rock and clay were spinning he began to shape a vessel.

The story teller shared a passage of scripture that came to his mind during this visit. Of course my mind had immediately gone to the encounter of the prophet Jeremiah with the potter and I had almost checked out of the story right then. I have witnessed many potters working with the wheel and felt I already knew what was going to happen and what would be shared. However, the passage the story teller referred to came as a result of the pit and was from Psalms 40:

"He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.” Ps 40:2 KJV

The picture I have always had in my mind went along with an old song we sang when I was growing up, the chorus went like this:

“He brought me out of the miry clay, He set my feet on the rock to stay, He put a song in my soul today, a song of praise Hallelujah!” (By Rev H. J. Zelley and H. L. Gilmour)

The picture I have always had was one of salvation. Being mired in the muck of sin, sinking lower and being unable to escape when God in His mercy reached down and lifted me out of that trap. He then placed me on the Rock Christ Jesus giving me hope and the promise of eternal life with Him.

The new picture was different in that now I saw God reaching down into the pit and picking me out by choice. Saying to Himself, as the Master Craftsman, this is just what I need to make a vessel of honor, good for the Master’s use. He then placed me in the center of the Rock, Christ Jesus, to shape me into that perfect master piece.

Now there is nothing wrong with the first picture. It is still applicable to our lives. However, the second picture takes us a bit further in our relationship with God. Jeremiah, the prophet, relates to us that God desires to work with us as the potter works with the clay. He desires to mold us into a vessel of honor. This process starts at the pit of mire. He lifts us from a life of hopelessness because of his desire to make something beautiful of our lives. He places us on the solid rock and as long we stay centered in Christ Jesus, the Rock, we can be made into the master piece He has pictured us becoming.

The picture of the clay being taken from the miry pit and formed into a master piece, a beautiful vessel is one that speaks to us of complete submission to the will of the Master. It speaks of being chosen and pliable in the hands of the one who has our best interest at heart. Becoming a vessel of honor, Meet for the Master’s House!

So once again, I am blessed be the old song that says:

“He brought me out of the miry clay, He set my feet on the rock to stay, He put a song in my soul today, a song of praise Hallelujah!”
Well, it is just a thought!