Holy Hatred

“I have hated those who regard useless idols; but I trust in the LORD.” (Psalm 31:6)

David has had nothing to do with these men and wants nothing to do with their idols. Why?

Habakkuk gives a helpful answer to that question as he explains the folly of worshipping idols – “What profit is the image (This is a rhetorical question – no profit!), that its maker should carve it, the molded image, a teacher of lies, that the maker of its mold should trust in it, to make mute idols? Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Awake!’ To silent stone, ‘Arise! (He is taunting these foolish gods. This is sarcasm – e.g., much like Elijah taunting the prophets of Baal.) It shall teach!’ Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, yet in it there is no breath at all. ‘But the LORD is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him” (Hab 2:18-20).

In contrast to the silence of these false idols, God is there, and he is not silent.

That is why David says, “But I trust in the Lord.” This pledge of dependence is a contrast to the idols that are not worth trusting.

David reminds us an idol is anything that a person puts his trust in, to the exclusion of trusting in the Lord.

Given this definition, we realize that idolatry is alive and well. There are many who put their trust in their bank accounts, or their college education, or their status in their profession, or their beautiful physique, etc. These are all “useless idols”, worthless because they have no real power to save.