What does Psalm 135:18 reveal about the spiritual state of idolaters? Psalm 135:18 in Its Context “Those who make them will be like them, as will all who trust in them.” Core Truth Drawn from the Verse • Idols are lifeless, senseless objects; therefore, those who worship them become spiritually lifeless and senseless. • The condition described is not partial but complete: makers and trusters alike share the same fate. • Scripture, accurate and literal, equates the character of the worshiper with the character of the object worshiped. The Spiritual State of Idolaters • Spiritual deadness – No capacity to respond to God (Ephesians 2:1). • Spiritual blindness – Eyes that cannot see truth (2 Corinthians 4:4). • Spiritual deafness – Ears closed to God’s voice (Jeremiah 6:10). • Moral stagnation – Hearts unresponsive, mirroring the inert nature of idols (Romans 1:21–23). • Self–inflicted futility – Investing hope in what can never save (Isaiah 44:9–20). Echoes in the Rest of Scripture • Psalm 115:8: “Those who make them become like them, as do all who trust in them.” • Isaiah 44:20: One who worships an idol “feeds on ashes; a deceived heart has led him astray.” • Habakkuk 2:18–19: Idols “cannot breathe,” yet people look to them for guidance. • Romans 1:25: They “exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator.” Contrast with True Worshipers • Those who worship the living God become increasingly alive (John 10:10). • They receive sight (2 Corinthians 3:16), hearing (John 10:27), and hearts of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26). • Instead of futility, they bear fruit that lasts (John 15:5). Living in Light of This Truth • Guard the heart from any rival that would dull spiritual senses. • Measure devotion by the standard of a living, speaking, active Lord (Hebrews 4:12). • Pursue fellowship with the One in whose image we are meant to grow (2 Corinthians 3:18), not with objects that freeze us in spiritual paralysis. |