Shattered Souls

Aim: To be whole in and one with Christ.

Doctrine: Unbelief leaves sinners completely disintegrated, which leads to alienation from God and happiness.

Exegesis: The sad process surrounding shattered souls: it starts with idolatrous hardening against God (vv. 1-6); it results in sudden disaster from God (vv. 7-11); it culminates in the righteous vindication of God (vv. 12-15).

Further application: How shattered souls are made perfectly whole: through our vital (living) union with Christ, which is manifested in our faith-sanctification.

Key phrase: v. 11b ''Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Even so I will break this people and this city, as one breaks a potter's vessel, which cannot be made whole again...' ''