What does Psalms 106:20 mean?

Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass. Psalms 106:20

Explanation

Psalm 106:20 speaks to a moment of profound idolatry among the Israelites. The verse laments the fact that they “changed their glory,” which is to say, they exchanged their worship and reverence of God, who is described in the Bible as their glory and their strength, for the image of an ox that eats grass. This ‘ox’ is a reference to the golden calf that the Israelites crafted and worshipped at Mount Sinai as recorded in the book of Exodus. The deeper meaning here underscores the tragic absurdity of the situation: the Israelites turned away from the glory and majesty of an omnipotent God to worship an inanimate object, a mere creation of their own hands that represents a common, grass-eating animal.

Historical Context

Psalms 106 recounts the history of Israel with a focus on their repeated lapses into idolatry and the subsequent judgments and mercies of God. This particular verse is a direct reflection on the incident of the golden calf, which occurred shortly after the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt. While Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments, the people became restless and persuaded Aaron to make a god for them. This event represents a low point in Israel’s history and an act of great faithlessness, as it happened shortly after God had dramatically rescued them from slavery.

Theological Insights

Theologically, Psalm 106:20 offers a few insights. Firstly, it serves as an illustration of the concept of idolatry, which is not just the literal worship of images but also placing anything above God in importance. Secondly, it emphasizes the notion of God’s glory, an attribute that belongs to Him alone, thus any attempt to replace Him with something else is both futile and sinful. Thirdly, some see the “ox that eateth grass” as a representation of the way in which idolatry reduces the worshippers to the level of irrational animals, severed from the true dignity bestowed by God. Finally, it serves as a reminder of God’s righteousness and the seriousness with which He regards the worship due to Him alone.

Practical Applications

The message of Psalm 106:20 can be applied in daily life by taking heed of the pitfalls of modern idolatry. This can mean prioritizing material possessions, careers, relationships, or even ideologies over one’s relationship with God. The verse calls individuals to reflect on what they may be unwittingly idolizing and to redirect their worship and reverence toward God, who is the rightful recipient of glory and honour.

Cross-References

• Exodus 32:4: “And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.”
• Romans 1:23: “And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.”
• Jeremiah 2:11: “Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.”

Language Study

In the original Hebrew, the word for ‘changed’ is “מָרוּ” (maru), which means to exchange or barter. “Their glory” refers to the honor or abundance, here indicating God Himself, who in other parts of the Bible is called the glory of Israel (1 Samuel 15:29). The “similitude of an ox that eateth grass” uses “תְּבֻנַת שׁוֹר עֹכֵל עֵשֶׂב,” where “תְּבֻנַת” (tevunath) means likeness or form, and “שׁוֹר” (shor) means ox/bull, a common animal in their agrarian society, noted for its grass-eating (עֹכֵל עֵשֶׂב) which emphasizes the natural, mundane aspect of the creature.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparing Psalm 106:20 with other ancient religious practices, the idolatry of the Israelites was not an anomaly. Many ancient civilizations engaged in the worship of animal deities or used animal forms in their religious iconography. For example, in Egypt, the god Apis was represented as a bull. The Israelites’ act of creating a golden calf to worship was an echo of these surrounding pagan cultures, highlighting their cultural assimilation in a moment of spiritual weakness.

Scientific Perspectives

Engaging with this verse from a scientific perspective means understanding that the worship of an animal or its representation is based on a pre-scientific understanding of the natural world. From a modern perspective, such behavior might be analyzed through the lens of psychology or sociology, examining why human beings might project spiritual attributes onto natural or crafted objects. While the verse doesn’t deal with scientific facts, it does reflect human behavior that can be studied scientifically.

commentaries

Various biblical experts and commentaries address Psalm 106:20 with a mixture of historical and theological analysis. Matthew Henry’s Commentary notes the absurdity and ingratitude of Israel’s actions, underlining the contrast between the living God and the lifeless idol. The Treasury of David by Charles Spurgeon reflects on the nature of God’s glory and the shameful act of exchanging it for an idol. John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible discusses the sinfulness of this act and its repercussions. These commentaries concur that the Israelite’s act of creating and worshipping the golden calf was deeply fallacious and offensive to God, being an act of both spiritual and rational folly.