by David Scott Robertson
Psalm 115:4-8 (NLT)
Their idols are merely things of silver and gold,
shaped by human hands.
[5] They cannot talk, though they have mouths,
or see, though they have eyes!
[6] They cannot hear with their ears,
or smell with their noses,
[7] or feel with their hands,
or walk with their feet,
or utter sounds with their throats!
[8] And those who make them are just like them,
as are all who trust in them.
* * *
The idols described in Psalm 115 are images shaped by human hands that have body parts but no power to use them. They are like a flashlight without batteries; a car without gasoline; or an electric appliance not plugged in to an outlet. It's like comparing a piece of plastic fruit with the real thing. They are completely lifeless.
The idols the psalmist pictures here are senseless, useless, powerless, and fruitless. They are stone dead - blind, deaf, and dumb.
The interesting thing in this passage is that God says that "those who make them are just like them, as are all who trust in them" (verse 8).
In essence, God is saying that those who participate in any form of idol worship are senseless, useless, powerless, and fruitless. They have hard hearts and are spiritually blind, deaf, and dumb. They are, in fact, spiritually dead, completely lifeless.
In our culture today, most of us are far removed from literal idols made of wood, stone, gold, or silver shaped in the images of men or monsters or mythological creatures. But in reality, an idol is anything that stands in between you and God.
With that expanded definition, we can readily see that the American culture is steeped in idolatry, for there are many things that stand in between God and Americans.
Sports, career, relationships, hobbies, religion, entertainment--you name it--these and a thousand other distractions form the figurative "American idol." At these pagan altars, worshippers present their generous offerings of allegiance, time, and money. An easy method of measuring the idolater's level of passion is to look over their calendar and check register (or credit card statement).
The problem with substituting the One True and Living God, Jesus Christ, with an idol is that no real life, fulfillment, or lasting satisfaction fills the hearts of idol worshippers. Solomon described the futility of pursuing pleasure apart from God as "a vanity of vanities" (Ecclesiastes 1:2 KJV).
The tragic flaw with choosing to serve idols over God is that not only is this a bad decision long-term (resulting in disqualification from receiving eternal life), but it also short circuits God's plan for sharing His abundance in this present life (John 10:10).
For truth be told, unless one is "born again" (John 3:3) or "born of the Spirit" (John 3:6), he or she are ineligible to receive (and manifest) the fruit of the Spirit. Therefore, those who live life independently without God cannot experience true love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Such is the predicament of all people who are not saved.
This problem of idolatry compounds when a person who claims to be a Christian nevertheless has many objects, issues, or persons that obscure their view of God. Believers though they may be, Christians who tolerate idols in their life will always live a quality of spiritual life far below God's privileges and experience God's chastening and loving discipline required to expunge the competing false gods.
The conclusion of the matter? I can't improve upon Solomon's final comments about putting anything in between you and the Lord:
"Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man" (Ecclesiastes 12:13).
DSR
5/23/05