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.
And now, O YHWH, You [are] our Father, || We [are] the clay, and You [are] our Framer, || And the work of Your hand—all of us.
The word that has been to Jeremiah from YHWH, saying, "Rise, and you have gone down [to] the potter’s house, and there I cause you to hear My words"; and I go down [to] the potter’s house, and behold, he is doing a work on the stones, and the vessel that he is making is marred, as clay in the hand of the potter, and he has turned and he makes it another vessel, as it was right in the eyes of the potter to make. And there is a word of YHWH to me, saying, "O house of Israel, am I not able to do to you as this potter?" A declaration of YHWH. "Behold, as clay in the hand of the potter, || So [are] you in My hand, O house of Israel.
No, but, O man, who are you that are answering again to God? Will the thing formed say to Him who formed [it], Why did you make me thus? Does the potter not have authority over the clay, out of the same lump to make one vessel to honor and one to dishonor?
Woe [to] him who is striving with his Former || (A potsherd with potsherds of the ground!) Does clay say to its Framer, What [are] you doing? And your work, He has no hands?
Your perversion! Is the potter esteemed as clay, || That the work says of its maker, "He has not made me?" And the framed thing said of its framer, "He did not understand?"
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.
And in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth, and some to honor, and some to dishonor: if, then, anyone may cleanse himself from these, he will be a vessel to honor, sanctified and profitable to the master—having been prepared to every good work;
And we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God, and not of us,
The precious sons of Zion, || Who are comparable with fine gold, || How they have been reckoned earthen bottles, || Work of the hands of a 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.
Your hands have taken pains about me, || And they make me together all around, || And You swallow me up! Please remember || That You have made me as clay, || And You bring me back to dust.
Silver of dross spread over potsherd, || [Are] burning lips and an evil heart.
Howl, you shepherds, and cry, || And roll yourselves, you majestic of the flock, || For your days have been full || For slaughtering, and [for] your scatterings, || And you have fallen as a desirable vessel.