Introduction: Language wise, in English, I’m comfortable. Trying to learn a couple of other languages, at school, Latin and French and, in my work. Amharic, I note that sentence order varies. Reading the Bible I find the same. In translations they seem to follow the original sentence pattern. In reading the Bible we sometimes have to change the order of phrases and almost sentences to understand the original meaning. We must also be aware that hidden in the writing are similes, metaphors, hyperboles, sarcasm and double meanings! Makes for fun!
11 And the vision of all this has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed. When men give it to one who can read, saying, “Read this,” he says, “I cannot, for it is sealed.” 12 And when they give the book to one who cannot read, saying, “Read this,” he says, “I cannot read.” – Comment: The phrase ‘has become to you‘ suggests to me either choice or laziness or rejection! What does ‘sealed’ mean? I think probably ‘too hard to cope with or possibly to even understand.” What do you think? This short passage oozes with not-so-gentle sarcasm! People use many excuses to not read their Bibles which is a much bigger book compared to this Isaiah prophecy but still very certainly ‘God spoken’. The prophet clearly states that his prophecy is God spoken! Earlier in the prophecy we read (ch 28:14) ‘Therefore hear the word of the LORD, you scoffers, who rule this people in Jerusalem!’ Reading is a good method of hearing! 13 And the Lord said:
“Because this people draw near with their mouth
and honour me with their lips,
while their hearts are far from me,
and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men, (actually taught by God).
14 therefore, behold, I will again
do wonderful things with this people,
with wonder upon wonder;
and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish,
and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden.” – superficial, hypocritical worship leads to moral and intellectual stupidity!
15 Ah, you who hide deep from the LORD your counsel,
whose deeds are in the dark,
and who say, “Who sees us? Who knows us?”
16 You turn things upside down!
Shall the potter be regarded as the clay,
that the thing made should say of its maker,
“He did not make me”;
or the thing formed say of him who formed it,
“He has no understanding”? – This passage is very instructive to us living in the 21st century. We often think that we are so intelligent and understand so much that we don’t say that ‘God is dead’, rather we ignore Him in our laws and planning altogether! It is to discover real living when we recognize that He, God, is the Potter, and that we are the clay! God can work wonders with misshapen clay!
Jeremiah 18: 1-6 – The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: “Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will let you hear my words.” So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was working at his wheel. And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do.
Then the word of the LORD came to me: “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the LORD. Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.
Prayer: Have Thine own way; Thou art the Potter, I am the clay. Mould me and make me After Thy will, While I am waiting, Yielded and still.
As I read it! 