1. By the sovereign will of God (1-17)

God is the potter forming his people. The clay is owned and purposed by the potter. The marred clay pot is unrepentant sin. The potter crushes and remolds the clay to once again serve his purpose. But when God sees repentance from his people, he forgives their sin and accepts them as his own. Judah would not repent, however. They were going to be repurposed by the sovereign God.

2. Jeremiah was molded by his potter (18-23)

The religious leaders felt threatened that their own false teachings would disappear. They spoke against Jeremiah. But God strengthened Jeremiah. He prayed. He was eager to see God glorified. Jeremiah was an ordinary man yet God would mold him like clay to accomplish his difficult mission.