Jeremiah’s word to Jehovah in 15:10—17:27 indicates that there was something within Jeremiah that was different from God’s thought regarding Israel. It might have been that the feeling within Jeremiah was that God’s judgment upon Israel was too severe. After Jeremiah’s complaining (Jer. 15:10), God came in to speak with Jeremiah, indicating to him that He was determined to use the Babylonians as iron to judge and punish Israel (Jer. 15:12). Following Jeremiah’s experience in arguing with God, he wrote a section of his prophecy concerning Jehovah as the sovereign Potter, who has absolute right over Israel as His pottery (vv. 1-10; cf. Rom. 9:20-23). Jehovah as the sovereign Potter is able to work with the house of Israel, as the clay in His hand, in changeable ways according to Israel’s condition (vv. 6-10). This corrected Jeremiah’s concept.

Jehovah’s further speaking in vv. 11-23 concerning the evil condition of Israel was His further vindication of Himself to Jeremiah. Although He had the full right to do with Israel whatever He wanted, He would not punish Israel in a way that was unfitting. Because of Israel’s evil condition, Israel deserved to be punished.

Although Israel had been a virgin betrothed to Jehovah, she forsook Him, the reality, as her Fiance? and turned to idols, which are vanity (cf. 2 Cor. 11:2-3).

The ancient paths were the right paths, which their forefathers had taken. To take the bypaths is to go downward; to take the ancient paths, a way that is cast up, is to go upward.

See note Jer. 11:20¹.