Read Psalm 135:13-21 13Your name, O Lord, endures forever, your renown, O Lord, throughout all ages. 14For the Lord will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants. 15The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands. 16They have mouths, but do not speak; they have eyes, but do not see; 17they have ears, but do not hear, nor is there any breath in their mouths. 18Those who make them become like them, so do all who trust in them. 19O house of Israel, bless the Lord! O house of Aaron, bless the Lord! 20O house of Levi, bless the Lord! You who fear the Lord, bless the Lord! 21Blessed be the Lord from Zion, he who dwells in Jerusalem! Praise the Lord!
God does whatever he pleases (v6), by contrast, idols can’t do anything. Unspeaking mouths, unseeing eyes and unhearing ears characterize their existence. Worse yet the maker of an idol becomes like the idol they have made. What is the principle here? We become like what we worship. As we worship God in Christ, we become Christ-like. As we worship the idols that we ourselves have made, we become like the insensitive idol, self-centered and obtuse. Inward focused not outward focused. Always asking for more but never giving.
The cure for the idolatrous heart is to find, in Christ, something far greater than the idol. Fighting idolatry requires a “put off and put on” mentality. Put off the idol. Yes, see its futility, or worse yet, its dangers. But then the Christian must also put on Christ and his love. See HIS value, HIS meaning, HIS life.
This is why the psalm ends with five blesses a fear and a praise. The psalmist knows that he can’t simply say “stop worshiping idols.” Rather, he must replace idolatry with the worship of God. Of Christ.
Have you learned this replacement principle? Do you fight idolatry by simply trying to “put off?” Or have you learned to “put on” Christ in place of the idol? Have you learned to live is Christ?
You: Have you discovered the replacement principle (put off and put on)? Where have you put it into practice?
You in Christ: How does knowing we are united to God in Christ allow us to fight against our idols?
Christ in you: In what specific way can Christ in you help you to fight your idols today?
Pray: Father, I know my idols are pointless. They don’t bring peace or pleasure. But you do. Help me to put on your son’s life and love today in their place. Amen.
To Live is Christ 