A Divine Transformation: From Miry Clay to Vessels of Honor

1 Kings 7:45-46
And the pots, and the shovels, and the basons: and all these vessels, which Hiram made to king Solomon for the house of the LORD, were of bright brass. In the plain of Jordan did the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zarthan.

King Solomon spared no expense in order to complete the building of the tabernacle of the Lord. He definitely did it justice! However, what I would like to point out is how significant and beautiful all of the vessels of the house of the Lord were! Their significance is obvious, for they would be used in the service of the house of the Lord, which is no small thing. Then it is said of their beauty that they “were of bright brass”!

These vessels were, as the writer of Timothy would say, vessels unto honor (see 2 Tim. 2:20) to say the least! They were significant, and they were beautiful. Now, notice with me their origin! Our text says that they were cast “in the clay ground”. Needless to say, there is nothing significant or beautiful about clay in its original state. However, when someone as significant as a King has need of something, all of a sudden its level of significance changes dramatically! And, when the King invests his energy and resources into making it become the finished product, all of a sudden its beauty is unmatched!

Friend, I remember a day when the King of Kings, the Lord Jesus, came and found me “in the clay ground”. I was insignificant and ugly in my sin; practically useless, until He showed up! But then He said He had use of me, so He saved me from my sins and put me in His service, and so I may not look like much to some, but if you knew where He brought me from and where I am today, you’d have to say that His work in my life is nothing short of significant and beautiful! Only Jesus could take a worthless wretch and make him a child of the King!

The Psalmist said in Ps. 40:2, “He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.” Oh wretched sinner, know assuredly that Christ sees you not for who you are, but for what He can make you to become! Isaiah 1:18 says, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” His blood will make you significant and beautiful, so call on Him today!

~ Pastor Gary Caudill
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