What is the meaning of Psalm 115:7? They Have Hands, but Cannot Feel - Psalm 115:7 begins by exposing the utter powerlessness of idols: “They have hands, but cannot feel”. - Carved or cast images possess the outward appearance of human capability, yet lack even the most basic sense of touch. - Scripture repeatedly contrasts such lifeless gods with the living LORD: - 2 Kings 19:18 reminds us that idols are “the work of men’s hands, wood and stone, and therefore they were destroyed.” - In Isaiah 41:23 the Lord challenges false gods to “do something, whether good or evil,” highlighting their inability. - Psalm 135:15-17 echoes the same indictment, confirming that those who put their trust in these images are “like them.” - The message: hands imply power and provision, but idols can neither provide nor protect. Only the God who “stretches out His hand” (Exodus 3:20) truly acts on behalf of His people. They Have Feet, but Cannot Walk - The verse continues: “they have feet, but cannot walk.” - Mobility speaks of presence—being able to go with, lead, or rescue. Idols cannot move toward anyone in compassion or judgment. - Consider 1 Samuel 5:3-4, where Dagon falls before the Ark of the Covenant; the idol is literally immobile while the living God actively displays His supremacy. - The Lord, by contrast, “walks in the midst” of His people (Leviticus 26:12) and “goes before” them (Deuteronomy 31:8). - Practical takeaway: Depending on anything other than the Lord—whether material wealth, status, or human wisdom—is to lean on what has feet yet remains stuck. They Cannot Even Clear Their Throats - Psalm 115:7 finishes: “they cannot even clear their throats.” - Speech signifies life, relationship, and authority. The idols cannot utter a sound, not even a cough. - Jeremiah 10:5 reinforces this: “Like scarecrows in a cucumber patch, they cannot speak.” - By contrast, our God speaks creation into existence (Genesis 1), sustains all things “by the word of His power” (Hebrews 1:3), and answers when His children call (Psalm 34:4). - The inability of idols to speak underscores their worthlessness and magnifies the glory of the Lord who “inclines His ear” to us (Psalm 116:2). summary Psalm 115:7 exposes the impotence of idols through vivid imagery: lifeless hands, paralyzed feet, and mute throats. The verse invites believers to reject every false refuge and trust the living God, whose hands act, whose feet go with us, and whose voice speaks life. |
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