"Veneration, Not Worship" Series Part 8: The Destruction of Idols

 The Destruction of Idols in Psalm 114:4-8 LXX 

The idols of the Nations are silver an gold…. The following verses show that their destruction is by the power of God.   

(114:4) The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the works of men's hands.

5(114:5) They have a mouth, but they cannot speak; they have eyes, but they cannot see:

6(114:6) they have ears, but they cannot hear; they have noses, but they cannot smell;

7(114:7) they have hands, but they cannot handle; they have feet, but they cannot walk: they cannot speak through their throat.

8(114:8) Let those that make them become like to them, and all who trust in them.

9(114:9) The house of Israel trusts in the Lord: he is their helper and defender.

10(114:10) The house of Aaron trusts in the Lord: he is their helper and defender.

11(114:11) They that fear the Lord trust in the Lord: he is their helper and defender.

12(114:12) The Lord has remembered us, and blessed us: he has blessed the house of Israel, he has blessed the house of Aaron.

The destruction of idols described in Psalm 114:4-12 (LXX) is not merely about the physical destruction of lifeless statues but represents a spiritual victory over the demonic powers behind them, accomplished by the might of God. This understanding aligns with biblical theology, which often portrays idol worship as a form of demonic deception. Below, we explore how this passage signifies God’s triumph over demonic forces.

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1. Idols as Instruments of Demonic Influence

The Psalmist declares that idols are "the works of men's hands" (114:4), meaning they have no intrinsic divine power. However, Scripture elsewhere clarifies that while idols are powerless, the forces behind them are real and malevolent:

• Deuteronomy 32:16-17:
  "They provoked Him to jealousy with foreign gods; with abominations, they provoked Him to anger. They sacrificed to demons, not to God, to gods they did not know."

• 1 Corinthians 10:19-20:
  "What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, but what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons."

These verses confirm that idolatry is not mere superstition but a direct engagement with demonic entities that enslave people. The silence and lifelessness of the idols in Psalm 114:5-8 symbolize the ultimate impotence of these demons in the face of God’s power.

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2. The Mockery and Powerlessness of Idols

Psalm 114:5-8 highlights the lifelessness of idols, exposing them as mute, blind, deaf, and immobile. This mirrors Isaiah 44:9-20, where the prophet ridicules the folly of idol-making, and Jeremiah 10:3-5, where idols are described as "scarecrows in a cucumber field."

• Why mockery? Because idol worshippers attributed divine power to statues that cannot even see or hear—a direct contrast to the living God who hears prayers and acts.

• This contrast highlights the victory of God, whose omnipotence shatters both the idols and the demonic forces behind them.

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3. The Curse on Idol-Makers (Psalm 114:8)

"Let those that make them become like them, and all who trust in them."

This statement is a curse and a spiritual reality. Those who worship idols become spiritually lifeless, just like the statues they serve. Their spiritual senses are dulled, making them blind to God’s truth, deaf to His word, and powerless in righteousness.

This aligns with Romans 1:21-25, where Paul explains that idolaters are darkened in their understanding and given over to spiritual corruption.

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4. God’s Victory Over Demons

Following the condemnation of idols, Psalm 114:9-12 shifts the focus to those who trust in the true and living God, emphasizing that:

• The house of Israel, the house of Aaron, and those who fear the Lord are blessed (114:9-12).

• God is their "helper and defender," showing His active power in contrast to the dead idols.

This divine intervention is not just over idols but over the demons behind them. This pattern of God’s victory over demonic-idolatrous forces is seen throughout Scripture:

1. Egyptian Plagues (Exodus 7-12)

• The plagues systematically humiliated Egypt’s gods, revealing that Yahweh alone is sovereign.

2. Elijah vs. Baal (1 Kings 18:20-40)

• The priests of Baal cried out to their god, but Baal remained silent, while Yahweh answered with fire.

3. Jesus’ Ministry

• Christ cast out demons, silencing their voices and demonstrating the kingdom of God overthrowing demonic dominion (Luke 11:20).

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Conclusion: The True Victory Over Idolatry is Spiritual

Psalm 114 is more than a rejection of carved images; it is a declaration of God’s triumph over the demonic forces behind them. While idols are powerless, the demons behind them deceive, enslave, and demand sacrifice—but God shatters them, delivering His people.

Thus, the destruction of idols is a spiritual war, one that is ultimately fulfilled in Christ, who conquers sin, death, and the power of Satan, leading all nations to worship the true and living God.