"Praise the LORD!...
The idols of the nations are but silver and gold,
the work of man's hands.
They have mouths, but they do not speak;
they have eyes, but they do not see;
they have ears, but they do not hear;
nor is there any breath at all in their mouths.
Those who make them will be like them,
yes, everyone who trusts in them.
O house of Israel, bless the LORD;
O house of Aaron, bless the LORD;
O house of Levi, bless the LORD;
you who revere the LORD, bless the LORD.
Blessed be the LORD from Zion,
who dwells in Jerusalem.
Praise the LORD!
(Psalm 135:1, 15-21)
In this first "hallelujah" psalm we've been pressed to meditate on the goodness and beauty and greatness of the God who has called us out as His own prized possession. We've been urged to praise Him for who He is and for what He has done. Here our attention is drawn to the vain things that natural men often naturally worship. There is truly no comparison.
John Calvin has said that our hearts are idol factories and in that statement he has spoken well. While, in our current culture, we may not manufacture quite as many tangible vessels of idolatry - I haven't noticed a "get your statue of Dagon" stand here in my own small burg (not yet) - we most certainly are constantly in the business of making heart idols left and right.
We worship ourselves, our friends, our toys, our desires, our labors, our reputations - on and on and on they go. Yes, our hearts are idol factories and the product that they are producing isn't up to par.
The same psalmist who has just directed our attention to the true and living God - you know, the One who is good and lovely and great, the One who is above all gods, the One who does as He pleases in heaven and on earth - now directs our attention to the false and dead gods of our contrivance.
"The idols of the nations are but silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they do not speak; they have eyes, but they do not see; they have ears but they do not hear; nor is there any breath in their mouths."
What kind of gods are these?
John Calvin has said that our hearts are idol factories and in that statement he has spoken well. While, in our current culture, we may not manufacture quite as many tangible vessels of idolatry - I haven't noticed a "get your statue of Dagon" stand here in my own small burg (not yet) - we most certainly are constantly in the business of making heart idols left and right.
We worship ourselves, our friends, our toys, our desires, our labors, our reputations - on and on and on they go. Yes, our hearts are idol factories and the product that they are producing isn't up to par.
The same psalmist who has just directed our attention to the true and living God - you know, the One who is good and lovely and great, the One who is above all gods, the One who does as He pleases in heaven and on earth - now directs our attention to the false and dead gods of our contrivance.
"The idols of the nations are but silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they do not speak; they have eyes, but they do not see; they have ears but they do not hear; nor is there any breath in their mouths."
What kind of gods are these?
They are created not creating.
They are formed not forming.
They are impotent not omnipotent.
They have mouths but can't speak...
... He spoke all of creation into existence with only a word.
They have eyes but can see nothing...
... He sees ALL things and even the deepest darkness is as light to Him.
They have ears but can't hear...
...He hears even the thoughts that we never audibly utter.
There is no comparison - none whatsoever!
Dead idols can't compete with a living God!!
May this incomparable comparison stir our hearts to hallelujahs! It is the living and true God who is our God. Therefore "bless the LORD.... You who revere the LORD, bless the LORD. Blessed be the LORD from Zion, who dwells in Jerusalem. Praise the LORD!"
There is no comparison - none whatsoever!
Dead idols can't compete with a living God!!
May this incomparable comparison stir our hearts to hallelujahs! It is the living and true God who is our God. Therefore "bless the LORD.... You who revere the LORD, bless the LORD. Blessed be the LORD from Zion, who dwells in Jerusalem. Praise the LORD!"
Praising the glory of His greatness,
Lori
No comments:
Post a Comment