The Christian Online Magazine -
Usually, we throw away things that are broken. But what do we do with broken people, marriages, families, dreams, churches, businesses, ministries, etc. ?
What about you today? Are you broken? Do you feel as though your life has been shattered into a thousand pieces?
Be encouraged! For God speaks through broken vessels. Today He has a very special message just for you.
Throughout the Bible, we find many instances where God uncovered a timely message to His people using broken things. Four of them are as follows -
1. The Frailty & Weakness Of Life
Psalm 22:15 - "My strength is dried up like a potsherd..."
In this particular verse, David compared his strength to that of a piece of broken pottery - a "potsherd." Like a "potsherd," his life was so dry, parched, brittle, and fragile. At the slightest pressure, he felt as though he could crumble to a thousand pieces.
In Proverbs 17:22, Solomon addressed the same topic when he said - "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones."
A "broken spirit" causes the body to become as dry and parched as a "potsherd."
Such conditions as grief, sorrow, anxiety, fretfulness, depression, a negative attitude, and heavy burdens due to guilt - deplete the bones of moisture and waste the life.
Another picture of the frailty of man is portrayed in Psalm 119:83 - "For I am become like a bottle in the smoke..."
In the East, people would hang their bottles - commonly made of leathern skins - in smoke in their tents. Because the smoke had no place to escape, the bottles became blackened with soot. After awhile, they would appear dry, parched, and shrivelled up.
The Psalmist pictured his life this way. Because of the exposure to the "smoke" of distress, discomfort, affliction, and sorrow in his life, he grew exhausted through the prolonged mental anguish as well as the bodily affliction. Said another way - his "strength" became dried up "like a potsherd."
2. The Humility Of Man
Isaiah 45:9 - "Woe unto him that striveth with His Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to Him that fashioneth it, What makest Thou? or Thy work, He hath no hands?"
In this particular verse, the Prophet Isaiah refers to man as a "potsherd" living among the "potsherds of the earth." He is "clay," and his "Maker" - the Lord Jesus - is the Potter Who "fashioneth" him.
How utterly absurd to think that he would dare to contend with his "Maker" Who has all power in heaven and in earth.
Who could possibly challenge God and win?
In response to such foolishness, the Prophet cries out - "Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth." In other words, pick on someone of your own size.
Yet, we see man daily contending with God - as he resists the power or influence of His Spirit and opposes His sovereignty and control over his life.
3. The Rejection Of Man
Psalm 31:12 - "I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel."
David felt like a "dead man out of mind." He also felt "like a broken vessel."
In both of these illustrations, we see him as a man who is forgotten or cast aside as someone no longer needed.
When one dies, after a period of time, he is soon forgotten by his acquaintances.
As the pieces of a "broken vessel" are gathered together and then thrown away as trash or junk, even so does the man feel worthless whose existence is fractured or shattered by the twists and turns of life's various circumstances.
4. The Judgment Of God
Psalm 2:9 - "Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel."
The imagery used here is meant to portray the ease by which the Messiah can crush and subdue all of His enemies.
The "rod of iron" depicts His universal and absolute dominion over all. Suddenly, easily, and irreparably - He can dash "in pieces" "like a potter's vessel" all those who rebel or rise up against Him.
Isaiah 30:14 - "And He shall break it as the breaking of the potters' vessel that is broken in pieces; He shall not spare: so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take water withal out of the pit."
The judgment of God is characterized here in two ways - "as the breaking of the potters' vessel that is broken in pieces" and as the "bursting" of a swelling, bulging, and bowing wall that falls down.
The ruin is so sudden and tremendous that there is not found one "sherd" or piece of pottery afterwards that is large enough to gather water from the pool or fountain nor to carry coals "from the hearth."
Jeremiah 25:34 - "Howl, ye shepherds, and cry; and wallow yourselves in the ashes, ye principal of the flock: for the days of your slaughter and of your dispersions are accomplished; and ye shall fall like a pleasant vessel."
The Prophet Jeremiah had a word for the leaders of the people. He prophesied of a day coming when they would "fall like a pleasant vessel." In other words, they would go from being something that is esteemed and prized as vessels of crystal or China to that which is broken, ruined, and totally worthless.
Revelation 2:27 - "AND HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON; AS THE VESSELS OF A POTTER SHALL THEY BE BROKEN TO SHIVERS: even as I received of My Father."
How futile it is for any to challenge the Mighty God for He governs His enemies with a "ROD OF IRON" and all those who oppose His rulership are "BROKEN TO SHIVERS" "AS THE VESSELS OF A POTTER."
As we have seen, God used broken things to -
...speak of man's weakness and lowly position in His Kingdom
...speak to us about man facing rejection and utter worthlessness in life's situations
...relate the awful judgment that comes to those who dare to rise up against the King of kings and Lord of lords.
Before you cast aside the broken things in your life, go before the Lord in prayer and ask Him to reveal to you any message that He has for you today.
You, as well as others, may count your broken things as being totally meaningless, yet God - through them - may have a valuable and life-changing lesson for you to learn or a certain godly characteristic that He wants developed in your life.
Remember - the Lord speaks through broken vessels.
It's time that you hear Him speak through yours.
Copyright 2004 by Connie Giordano
