Vaso
A metáfora do vaso é uma das mais belas da Bíblia. Assim como o oleiro molda o barro, Deus nos forma segundo seus propósitos, fazendo de nós vasos úteis para sua glória.
Nas mãos do oleiro
Deus é o Oleiro e nós somos o barro. Ele tem autoridade e sabedoria para nos moldar conforme sua vontade perfeita, e não devemos questionar sua obra.
8 But now, O Lord, thou art our Father: we are the clay, and thou art our potter, and we all are the worke of thine hands.
1 The worde which came to Ieremiah from the Lord, saying, 2 Arise, and go downe into the potters house, and there shall I shewe thee my words. 3 Then I went downe to the potters house, and behold, he wrought a worke on the wheeles. 4 And the vessell that he made of clay, was broken in the hand of the potter. so he returned, and made it another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. 5 Then the worde of the Lord came vnto me, saying, 6 O house of Israel, cannot I doe with you as this potter, sayth the Lord? beholde, as the clay is in the potters hande, so are you in mine hande, O house of Israel.
20 But, O man, who art thou which pleadest against God? shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? 21 Hath not the potter power of the clay to make of the same lumpe one vessell to honour, and another vnto dishonour?
9 Woe be vnto him that striueth with his maker, the potsherd with the potsherds of the earth: shall the clay say to him that facioneth it, What makest thou? or thy worke, It hath none hands?
16 Your turning of deuises shall it not be esteemed as the potters clay? for shall the worke say of him that made it, Hee made me not? or the thing formed, say of him that facioned it, He had none vnderstanding?
Vasos para honra
O cristão é chamado a ser um vaso de honra, purificado e preparado para toda boa obra. Nosso valor está em quem nos formou e no que carregamos.
20 Notwithstanding in a great house are not onely vessels of gold and of siluer, but also of wood and of earth, and some for honour, and some vnto dishonour. 21 If any man therefore purge him selfe from these, he shalbe a vessell vnto honour, sanctified, and meete for the Lord, and prepared vnto euery good worke.
7 But we haue this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellencie of that power might be of God, and not of vs.
2 The noble men of Zion coparable to fine golde, howe are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, euen the worke of the handes of the potter!
Moldados pela graça
Mesmo quando nos sentimos frágeis e imperfeitos, o poder de Deus se aperfeiçoa em nossa fraqueza. Ele nos restaura e nos renova continuamente.
8 Thine handes haue made me, and fashioned mee wholy rounde about, and wilt thou destroy me? 9 Remember, I pray thee, that thou hast made me as the clay, and wilt thou bring me into dust againe?
23 As siluer drosse ouerlayde vpon a potsheard, so are burning lips, and an euill heart.
34 Howle, ye shepherdes, and crie, and wallowe your selues in the ashes, ye principall of the flocke: for your dayes of slaughter are accomplished, and of your dispersion, and ye shall fall like precious vessels.