SO THE POTTER FORMED IT INTO ANOTHER POT, SHAPING IT AS
SEEMED BEST TO HIM: "The potter was making a vessel on the wheels, the upper
and lower discs made of stone or wood. The lower one was worked by the foot of
the potter and was attached by an axle to the upper one, on which the clay was
worked. The discs were in a horizontal position. As happened frequently in the
daily life of a potter, the clay did not turn out right. Often in throwing the
clay, some defect would become evident. The potter then rolled the clay into a
lump to begin his task again to make a more suitable product. The chief point
here is the power the potter had over the clay. The clay was in his hand and
under his control. The defects were in the clay, not the hand of the potter. The
potter's perseverance must not be overlooked at this point in this passage"
(EBC). In contrast to the clay pot in Jer 19:1,10, the same clay here could
still be changed into a different vessel -- not having been hardened
yet.
AS IT SEEMED BEST TO HIM: "You created all things, and
by your will [or 'for thy pleasure': AV] they were created and have their being"
(Rev 4:11).
Jer 18:18
"You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die
for the people than that the whole nation perish" (Joh 11:50).