A Poured Out and Broken Jug

Rev. Vance Becker, LCMS missionary serving as a theological educator at Neema Lutheran College in Matongo, Kenya, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Jeremiah 19:1-15. Learn more about Rev. Becker and how to support his work at lcms.org/becker.

The LORD gives Jeremiah another object lesson from the world of pottery. He tells His prophet to take a clay jug along with some of the elders to the Valley of the Son of Hinnom. This unpleasant place was a burning trash dump where despicable idolatry was common; it later became an image for hell. The wickedness of Judah was so great that they defiled even this place by sacrificing their children to false gods. For this reason, the place will become known as the Valley of Slaughter as the evil of Judah is turned upon them. The LORD will pour out their evil plans as water is poured from a jug. The LORD then commands Jeremiah to smash the jug as a further sign of what will happen to His people. Their false gods will be of no use to them. Their only hope is in the LORD, who proclaims Himself in the rest of Holy Scripture as the One who raises and restores His repentant remnant.

“A Time to Destroy and a Time to Build” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Jeremiah. The prophet calls the people of Judah and Jerusalem to repent of their faithless idolatry and warns them of the destruction that is coming in the Babylonian exile. Yet Jeremiah does not leave us without hope in the midst of such dark days. Jeremiah and all who believe the Word of God he preached survive because of hope that is found in the righteous Branch from the line of David, Jesus Christ.