Psalms 115:4

THE WAY IT IS WITH HEATHEN IDOLS

"Their idols are silver and gold,

The work of men's hands.

They have mouths, but they speak not;

Eyes they have, but they see not;

They have ears, but they hear not;

Noses have they, but they smell not;

They have hands, but they handle not;

Feet have they, but they walk not;

Neither speak they through their throat.

They that made them shall be like unto them;

Yea, every one that trusteth in them."

This is one of the classic passages in the Old Testament regarding idols. It ranks along with passages in Isaiah 40; Isaiah 42; and Isaiah 44 and is repeated verbatim in Psalms 135:15-18.

We are surprised that Addis expresses the old heathen apology for idols, stating that, "The heathen did not, as the psalmist assumes, identify the idol and god."[10] Among the most intellectual pagans, that distinction was probably made. Indeed, Israel attempted to use it when they made the golden calf, affirming that it was the same as the God, "who brought them up out of Egypt (Exodus 32:4,11)." God allowed no such apology for an idol, and men should not allow it today.

As Delitzsch said, the psalmist here probably knew from his own experience, "How little was the distinction made by the heathen worshipper between the symbol and the thing symbolized."[11]

The widespread lack of information concerning the entire subject of idols and the consecration of sacred images, which to all intents and purposes are indeed no different from ancient pagan idols, is pitiful indeed. For further extensive comment on this subject, see Vol. II of my series on the Pentateuch (Exodus), pp. 272-275.

The essential evil in all idols (and images) is that any symbolism ascribed to them is a falsehood. By its very nature, any religious image is false, being a lying presentation of what is allegedly represented. How can that which is material represent that which is spiritual? How can that which is helpless represent omnipotence? How can that which decays represent life eternal? How can that which is not intelligent represent omniscience? How can that which is dumb, blind, unfeeling, deaf and dead represent any of the vital realities of God and his holy religion?

"There is abundant proof that the heathen did indeed trust their idols, as revealed by Herodotus, 5:80 and VIII: 64,83."[12] Thus, the "assumption of the psalmist here" that the heathen were actually worshipping idols, as contrasted with what they were supposed to represent, is altogether true.

"They that make them shall be like unto them ... yea, every one that trusteth in them." The principle that men become like the object of their adoration holds good if that object is a dead idol. This imprecation applies not only to the craftsmen who made the idols, but to those who employed them, "And is extended in the climax, to all idolaters, every one that trusteth in them."[13]

Regarding all idols and sacred images, even those in nominal Christian churches, there are several divine prohibitions. It is a sin: (1) to make them; (2) serve them; (3) or even to bow down in front of them; and (4) of course, a sin to worship them. (See a full discussion of this third item in Vol. 12, of my New Testament Commentaries (Revelation), pp. 435,436,511-513.) It is a sin to bow the head, genuflect, bend the knee or make obeisance to any sacred image, even if the person doing so mistakenly thinks he is worshipping what the image is alleged to symbolize. The sin is making any such gesture "in front of a man-made image."